By Steve Kaless
November 20th 2008 @ 3:28am
Kiwis and Dragons to benefit from psychologist Bennett
Wayne Bennett has incredible respect as a rugby league coach, but if he can manage to get the Kiwis even close to the Kangaroos on Saturday night, then it will probably be time to bump him up from King to God.
Bennett has taken up the sort of consultant role which seems fairly popular now in business, so that when it all goes pear shaped, everyone can blame the bloke who is no longer around.
However, while Stephen Kearney is the face of the coaching team, it is clear that Bennett is pulling the strings.
The reason he is such a great fit for the Kiwis is because Bennett fits into the role of psychologist coach.
I see there are a number of types of coaches: there are the tacticians (Brian Smith, Jason Taylor, John Lang), whose sides always have an armoury of set plays for all types of occasions.
There are the disciplinarians (Des Hasler, Daniel Anderson and Steve Folkes), who have their teams eating dumb bells and running into the sunset from dawn in order to be best prepared.
And finally, there are the psychologists, who Bennett represents best, whose main weapon is motivating players to play their natural game to the best of their ability.
The Broncos have never had a huge bag of sets plays, or even been renowned for their fitness, but Bennett has always known which players need a rocket and which ones needs a cuddle.
The New Zealand national team probably need a good few hours on the couch to get over the inferiority complex, but if there is anyone who would provide a good stop-gap measure it is Bennett.
As a big fan of Bennett, I’ve followed his impact on the Kiwis with interest. But the final judgment will have to wait until after the full time whistle on Saturday.
Further down the line, though, it will be interesting to see what sort of impact his style has on the Dragons.
Already deemed “St Wayne” by the glory starved fans of the Red V, they are banking on his bringing premierships to Kogarah like he did at Redhill.
But the Dragons may be an altogether different proposition.
I always felt that there are some coaches who have been charmed by having at their disposal an incredibly talented football side. John Monie in the 1980s with Parramatta is a prime example. Monie is remembered as a brilliant coach, but who wouldn’t be with that sort of side?
So when Bennett moves South, it should be remembered that he’ll be bringing Darius Boyd with him, but not Darren Lockyer, Wally Lewis, Allan Langer, the Walters brothers, or any of the real stars the Broncos had in their ranks during his 21 year tenure there.
Nor will be bringing down a production line which seems to just churn out Origin standard players.
He will, however, turn up with a record that includes plenty of post-Origins fade outs from a side ladened with stars but also fatigue.
Bennett has done it all, but in the next twelve months a World Cup for New Zealand and a premiership for the Dragons would no doubt rate as his best achievements.
Of those two, which is more likely is anyone’s guess.
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The Link said | November 20th 2008 @ 8:14am | Report comment
Steve, i’d say he’d get neither. However its been a while since Wayne and big Dell were making sweet Rugby League music together….
The Kiwis seem plenty motivated enough, which therefore seems that Wayne’s doing his job, it’s tactically and in selections that they’re falling down (Kearney’s fault) and lack of cattle (no ones fault really).
I’d add Sheens to the tactitions in place of Lang and add Sticky to the disciplinarians.
Its funny how many successful coaches effectively straddle both, i’d say Bellamy, C. Anderson, Gould, Fulton, Gibson had their teams hitting the sand dunes but had the tactics to win the big games via strategy.
Hoy said | November 20th 2008 @ 9:01am | Report comment
He is also going down to the most overrated underachieving team in recent times. Going back about 5 years ago now, they had all the stars south of the border just about. I would say the Saints had more in their stable than the Broncs, and still failed. He missed out on those players by a few years, but they always promise lots and deliver little Saint George.
You are talking up the Broncs there, but forgetting how good St George should be.
Steve Kaless said | November 21st 2008 @ 6:03am | Report comment
Thanks lads.
Link, My list certainly wasn’t exhaustive, but you are right in that you need to be flexible to be a great coach, I think Stuart falls down because I question his ability to motivate rather than just screaming at players.
Hoy, The Saints are certainly big underachievers, no argument there, however they may have missed their opportunity for the glory since they have got closer to parity with the rest of the comp in terms of the salary cap (after being allowed to have double during the merger) they have lost plenty of good talent. That roster certainly isn’t what it was.