Wayne Bennett

[Spot On]

Apparently he has told Milford he can't play for Samoa in the rep round yet he is encouraging Joe O to play for Tonga and of course he is coaching England. FFS.

 

[The Showstopper]

With Milford's obvious superstar qualities this could all blow up in Bennett's face. Every club in the game would move heaven and earth to sign him. I also think Milf will be a dual international. He will not stay in league for life unless they find big money and it will need to be a benchmark. He will be a SBW style franchise minus the boxing IMO.

 

[Hauff]

The fact that he left the club in a worse state when he left than when he walked in is the unforgivable part imo. He was supposed to conduct a club rebuild but instead he left it in tatters and walked straight into that Broncos team which Griffin had rebuilt over several years and now he's getting all the credit when they're going well. I'm not saying that he doesn't deserve any credit for how the Broncos are doing but they were already almost a rep quality team before he got there but everyone's forgotten that most of the key pieces were already in place before he got there.

No, you are making up your own narrative there. the key pieces weren't in place at the Broncos that was the problem. He made significant change and in the world of elite sport, it's the one percenters that move you from struggling to make the 8 to the GF.

 

[Hauff]

I have a terrible opinion of Wango, but thats not even from what he did here....

I read his biography about his experience setting up the Broncos and found his self-delusion staggering. He genuinely believed his 20 years at the club was an "against-the-odds" underdog story (despite having the pick of the QLD Cup and being by far the wealthiest team around).

I think he honestly believed he could walk into a place and it would just become successful. His time here began to crush that fantasy so he got out with the first excuse....

I suggest you re read his book with an open mind. This time you may understand it better.

 

[Spot On]

No, you are making up your own narrative there. the key pieces weren't in place at the Broncos that was the problem. He made significant change and in the world of elite sport, it's the one percenters that move you from struggling to make the 8 to the GF.

Can you elaborate on the key pieces that Bennett put in place and the significant changes please.

 

[Rod]

I'm not as sour as most, but he definitely got up and walked out with his job only half done. Where I differ from most around here is that I can't blame him for doing it - I wouldn't work for 1/3rd of my worth, either... and I certainly wouldn't do it in a job I hated, away from the people I care about.

One can speculate until the cows come home about where we'd be if he stayed another couple of years. I think he realised the job was too big to get done in the timeframe he wanted to give, and so rather than half-arse it or continuing to do the job, knowing he wouldn't finish it, he walked away when he had the chance. I can relate to it, and I don't hold it against him.

I really hope he writes a book about his time in Newcastle, I think it will be quite revealing.

Yeah this is mostly my point of view as well. Obviously a great coach, I don't buy the fact that all he's done is had great players. Successful coaching is so much more than that, as the Warriors constantly remind us.

We also shouldn't forget that Tinkler brought him in with the specific request that he wanted a premiership, and to basically do whatever he could to make this happen. Sure Bennett axed some local boys and went for the quick fix but he was in a way following orders trying to get that premiership.

Agreed about the book thing too. We always got very sanitized soundbites from him when he was here, I'd love to get a real insight from him about his time here.

He could have handled the way he left better though. He also left us in the shit in terms of player power/contracts which we are probably still recovering from, but then again would we be in any better of a position if he hadn't been here? Probably not, we always struggle to retain quality juniors and sign good players no matter what.

I will say this also. This isn't really a point for or against Bennett but the Tinkler/Bennett rollercoaster was damn exciting at the time. It made things interesting if nothing else.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

No, you are making up your own narrative there. the key pieces weren't in place at the Broncos that was the problem. He made significant change and in the world of elite sport, it's the one percenters that move you from struggling to make the 8 to the GF.

I don't mind that you disagree with me but if you could be specific about what Bennett significantly changed that would help me understand.

Also I stand by my statement that most of the pieces were there already... Hunt, McCullough, Parker, Gillett etc were already there. He brought Boyd back and he seems to have his mojo back (I still can't fathom how bad he was at the Knights though) and Milford went there too but apparently for family reasons rather than wanting to play for Bennett.

Not saying he's a bad coach, his record speaks for itself obviously, but to give him all the credit for where the Broncos are at now doesn't really do justice to Griffin and whoever else was there behind the scenes putting that roster together.

It's just extremely annoying that it took him 1 season to turn the Broncos to a grand final team (who probably should be premiers if it wasn't for a magic play by the Cowboys) and on the flip side one year on after he left the Knights are in probably the worst shape they've ever been in as a club and as a team.

I wouldn't feel too strongly about it either way if we were at least in a position to compete with other clubs after Wayne leaving but the fact that we are even worse off now is the really hard part to take.

Part of me wishes we could go back in time to mid-2009 and offer Brian Smith a longer contract so he could finish the job he was brought in to do in the first place. Instead we've had 4 coaching changes in the last 7 years and have just gone further backwards.

 

[Spot On]

It would have been interesting to see if Bennett would have stayed around longer if the club finances and his huge salary was guaranteed long term. Somehow, I think it would have been a challenge he would have happily left for someone else.

 

[EdLondon]

I agree with Peverse. The only thing that leaves a bit of a bad taste is the few parting swipes he made re having to lower his standards etc. I think he either had to completely lay it on the table why he was leaving or just leave it at wanting to go back to Brisbane/family etc.

I believe he could have turned it around given time but he was just not willing to give it that much time at this stage in his career. I also believe the book he writes about the time he spent here will be a great insight. But you do get the feeling he is a bit sour about it all.

To rub salt in the wound having his little lapdog Boyd coming out before the Brisbane game saying something to the effect of 'newcastle blame everyone but themselves for their problems'. That may be true but in his final year I thought we acted admirably with a lot compassion for his illness. You would think he would have appreciated that.

Anyway I guess no-one will ever know unless that tell all comes in the future.

 

[otori]

For the same reason I was excited about the Tickler era, I hope Koukash buys the team. It's not as if we have any other hope to turn it around and at least being someone's plaything would be better than being the shitty toy no one wants to touch

 

[Alex28]

The very fact that him having to lower his standards rather than lifting the club to his own standards shows how much he was phoning it in for the cash here...

 

[Sydney Knight]

We paid Boyd probably 300k for the second half of his last season to not play and get his life in order. It was the right thing to do but he could have been a bit more thankful.

I also believe we provided support to Russell Packers wife and kids even though he never even played a game.

We must be owed some serious Karma credits

I agree with Peverse. The only thing that leaves a bit of a bad taste is the few parting swipes he made re having to lower his standards etc. I think he either had to completely lay it on the table why he was leaving or just leave it at wanting to go back to Brisbane/family etc.

I believe he could have turned it around given time but he was just not willing to give it that much time at this stage in his career. I also believe the book he writes about the time he spent here will be a great insight. But you do get the feeling he is a bit sour about it all.

To rub salt in the wound having his little lapdog Boyd coming out before the Brisbane game saying something to the effect of 'newcastle blame everyone but themselves for their problems'. That may be true but in his final year I thought we acted admirably with a lot compassion for his illness. You would think he would have appreciated that.

Anyway I guess no-one will ever know unless that tell all comes in the future.

 

[Misanthrope]

He took the money and ran, simple as that.

Paid lip service to the community about his desire to actually enact meaningful change, threw the piggy bank at signing old players so he could push us to a semi-final against all odds, and then bailed as soon as the going got tough.

He's left the club in a truly woeful state. Smith and Hagan were better for the club than Bennett proved to be.

 

[perverse]

The thing is, success breeds success. If he had managed to get us to a grand final, or even win one in a short time frame, you then look a lot more attractive to other players, and your own for that matter. It instills a bit of pride. I don't blame him at all for trying to turn us into a successful outfit quickly, and I don't think we'll ever know if he could have followed it up had off field conditions been a bit kinder. To say he didn't have a plan for the future when our young juniors (many of which he was involved in bringing here) are now outplaying our senior blokes seems a little backwards to me. I think he knew that you can't just bring a bunch of kids into a failing team and expect them to improve it, you need a stable environment for them to come into where they can learn something. Bennett tried to establish that. The Dragons already had it, as did the Broncos.

 

[Misanthrope]

Who's saying he didn't have a plan for the future?

 

[perverse]

I thought you were questioning his desire to enact meaningful change. I don't really question that aspect at all, I think he did want that and he did try, at least to begin with. I don't blame him for cutting and running for reasons I've already gone through.

 

[Misanthrope]

I'm sure he wanted to make change when the conditions suited him, but he paid lip service to the community with regards to his commitment to the club and 'fixing' things.

I'm not saying other coaches wouldn't have done the same, but most other coaches don't have his reputation. He left the club high and dry, and we're still dealing with the fallout to this day. Maybe if the next coach had known what his plans were, we'd be in a different situation now.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

To rub salt in the wound having his little lapdog Boyd coming out before the Brisbane game saying something to the effect of 'newcastle blame everyone but themselves for their problems'. That may be true but in his final year I thought we acted admirably with a lot compassion for his illness. You would think he would have appreciated that.

It is quite telling that he didnt consider himself as a part of that catagory. It wasnt "our" problems, it was "their" problem...

 

[Noname36]

Can you elaborate on the key pieces that Bennett put in place and the significant changes please.

I doubt he'll be able to give you many, if any.

As others have already pointed out Bennett walked into a very solid and settled squad at Brisbane. Griffin went through the pain and hassle of developing them in FG but got sacked right before the rewards were ready to be reaped.

The most significant addition that's sparked them to the next level has been Milford but again it was Hook who went after that signing.

I know most Broncos fans have a very low opinion of Griffin but they should be extremely thankful to him - because it's his hard work that they're seeing the benefits of now. I'd be absolutely filthy if I were him - especially seeing Bennett pick up all the praise.

 

[1qaz]

I doubt he'll be able to give you many, if any.

As others have already pointed out Bennett walked into a very solid and settled squad at Brisbane. Griffin went through the pain and hassle of developing them in FG but got sacked right before the rewards were ready to be reaped.

The most significant addition that's sparked them to the next level has been Milford but again it was Hook who went after that signing.

I know most Broncos fans have a very low opinion of Griffin but they should be extremely thankful to him - because it's his hard work that they're seeing the benefits of now. I'd be absolutely filthy if I were him - especially seeing Bennett pick up all the praise.

Lol.. it's only the bitter Knights fans that seem to rate Anthony so highly and Bennett so poorly.
The same Anthony that thought Hoffman was a 5/8th?
The same Anthony that played Hunt as a hooker?
The same Anthony that played Norman as a fullback?
The same Anthony that thought Martin Kennedy was any good?
The same Anthony that had no idea where to play Barba?

Bennett walked into such a settle squad LOL
Where is Hoffman these days? If Anthony was still in charge he would still be the Broncos number 6 :lol:
Where is Barba?
Where is Kennedy?
Where is Vidot?
Where is Hannant?
Who wanted Adam Blair 2 years ago? No one did! Except for me and Bennett.