Tonight will be an acid test for super coach Wayne Bennett. Heralded as the best coach the game has ever seen, many have wondered if this tag has been falsely awarded to the man who has always had the privilege of preparing a team full of superstars.
He has several Premiership wins under his belt with the Brisbane Broncos, arguably the most successful team in NRL history.
He has many triumphs at State of Origin level, too, coaching Alfie Langer, Wally Lewis, Mal Meninga, Darren Lockyer … well you get the idea.
He has a great record at the Test level, too, once again giving the finishing touches to teams who have been the rugby league equivalent of the Harlem Globetrotters.
This is to take nothing away from the man his players know affectionately as ‘Benny’. His statistics speak for themselves. However, for many it will be the game that will prove once and for all what has made the Brisbane Broncos so great for so long: Wayne Bennett’s tactical leadership, or the sheer wealth of talent permeating the Brisbane junior leagues?
The Dragons have performed pretty well so far in the season under Bennett, not delivering any outstanding performances yet, but certainly producing steely efforts in defence and a grit and toughness the club has probably been lacking for the last ten years.
The Broncos under Ivan Henjak, however, have been the yardstick of the competition.
They have taken on three of the NRL’s heavyweights in the Storm, the Cowboys and the Warriors, and have walked away victorious in all three matches. So far it’s fair to say that Brisbane have been immune to any predicted Bennett hoodoo.
It will undoubtedly be an unusual feeling for Bennett, travelling to Suncorp Stadium as the outsider and no longer considered the god of the Brisbane crowd.
Parading the red V in front of the parochial Brisbane fans could be the equivalent of waving a red flag to an angry bull. But then again, you have a suspicion Bennett is not afraid to be the villain.
He has played that role brilliantly for most of his career.
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April 3rd 2009 @ 4:06pm
oikee said | April 3rd 2009 @ 4:06pm | Report comment
What you have left out is the fact that Benny has also got his side into every finals play-off since he started coaching. Having good players is one thing, (tigers roosters) getting them to perform is another. Look to be honest , remember that year in which nobody gave any hope of brisbane winning the final, yet benny took them there. That was the year nobody ever questioned wayne Bennetts ability ever agin. I surgest you do the same even if the dragons lose 10 straight games.
Just one more thing, he happens to be the greatest coach of any code, try looking up some stats for great coaches and see if you can find one better. Even that ferguson guy who coaches manchester, i dont think his record is as good as benny’s.
Just dont forget, he never missed a final in 21 years of coaching.
April 3rd 2009 @ 4:08pm
oikee said | April 3rd 2009 @ 4:08pm | Report comment
“never Missed the finals in 21 years of coaching”, i had better correct that, will have everyone on my back saying i am making things up otherwise, those No neck supporters like to get things spot on.
April 4th 2009 @ 9:27am
Chris Dick said | April 4th 2009 @ 9:27am | Report comment
Eat your words.
1) Dragons won last night.
2) Bennett built The Bronco players into superstars
3) How about the Kiwi World vup win?
What planet are you on?
April 5th 2009 @ 12:31am
znotty said | April 5th 2009 @ 12:31am | Report comment
Saints won 7 of the previous games against the Broncos & havent been beaten up there since 2004 with Wayne Bennett in charge seems that fact is lost on a few.