Bennett’s coaching left NRL All Stars rudderless

 

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By ScottWoodward.me, 16 Feb 2010 ScottWoodward.me is a Roar Guru

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 Brisbane Broncos, Jonathan Thurston, NRL, NRL All Stars, Rugby League, Wayne Bennett

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I went on record to defend Wayne Bennett’s greatness as a Rugby League coach, but his contribution with the NRL All Stars was not his best performance.

The “fun” game against the Indigenous All Stars was a beauty and both teams played at 100 percent and in the right spirit, but the All Stars did not have much help from their mentor.

Bennett elected to play two of his guns on the wrong side of the field.

Jennings was amazing every time he touched the ball, but he prefers to play on the left side, and Folau is much more potent on the right side, where he can out jump anyone.

Also, the All Stars chose not to convert any try and waste a possible six points preferring to look rudderless by going for another try when they had no idea what to do, and on one occasion, Nat Myles kicked when the rules say you cannot.

The preparation was embarrassing.

The NRL All Stars were good enough to take a two point lead with under 10 minutes on the clock, but with skipper Lockyer injured and unable to take part, Bennett decided to take Cameron Smith from the field, leaving the team with no direction.

Benjy Marshall was lost and had a shocker.

Champion Indigenous playmaker Jonathan Thurston decided to put the foot down and it was all over. He was his team’s best contributor, that is, if we exclude the NRL All Stars coach.

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