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While Wayne Bennett’s decision to leave the Newcastle Knights at the end of this season reportedly came as a surprise to his players, most rugby league fans weren’t shocked.
To his credit, Wayne came to the conclusion that his results were not up to scratch, and if he was a coach at any other club he would most likely have been sacked.
The disappointing thing is that Wayne leaves Newcastle high and dry, stuck with the roster he brought in, having had little success.
When he rode into town, Wayne was the most successful coach in the game. Nathan Tinkler wanted nothing but the best, and he got it. Many talked up the Knights’ chances to win multiple premierships; success, it seemed, was on the doorstep.
Bennett made some key signings, bringing Darius Boyd with him from the Dragons, followed by Beau Scott a season later. Dane Gagai, Willie Mason and Danny Buderus also joined the fold. Combined with solid performers already at the Knights such as Jarrod Mullen, Kurt Gidley and Aku Uate, and things were looking good.
But something went wrong with Wayne’s plans for the team. Was it the overarching influence of Tinkler’s craved success? Or Wayne’s willingness to give players a second chance? Tinkler had shown he wouldn’t put up with mediocrity in his thoroughbred pursuits, and although Wayne would never reveal if the pressure was there, surely this impacted some of his decisions on team signings.
Craig Gower, Michael Dobson, Travis Waddell and Joseph Leilua were all given opportunities at the Knights. Was this to have depth in the squad? We all know what happened with Russell Packer. He was a renowned bad boy and Wayne signed him with the idea of turning him around. Sometimes you can’t save them all.
Wayne tried to buy his way to a premiership, rather than dig in and develop the squad from within. He took a short cut, whether forced by the need for success, or it was his genuine mistake.
In his first year, he rid the club of 15 players, but brought home Timana Tahu and Kade Snowden. The club was cruelled by a Kurt Gidley shoulder injury and eventually ran 12th with 10 wins from 24 starts.
In 2013 the team had some impressive displays and flirted with becoming serious contenders. They had a mixed run into the finals and with wins over the Bulldogs in week one, and the Storm in Melbourne the week after, many started to wonder if Bennet had finally put it together. But the game in Melbourne was their grand final, it was a great achievement but they were never going to beat the Roosters, even if Buderus hadn’t been injured done.
Finishing in the final four almost felt like and overachievement, and hid the cracks in the squad and plan. Experienced heads can get you so far, but it’s raw, long-developed and often youthful talent that will win you a premiership.
With much optimism after the high finish in 2013, the Knights turned up at the Auckland Nines with a fresh energy, but were once again dealt a bad hand when Mullen walked off with a hamstring injury. This was the first part of the Knights’ 2014 season derailing.
The loss of Buderus left a huge hole, both positional and in guiding the team. Further injuries to Gidley, the Alex McKinnon situation and the Tinkler demise all prevented the team from gathering momentum.
Wayne’s time at St George Illawarra was different, but he stuck to a plan of developing many players the club already had on board. He had a two to three year plan to achieve a premiership, and built towards that. He made players big names, rather than bringing in a list of stars. At the Knights he was in a hurry to achieve success, and things just didn’t fall into place.
In many ways it’s easy to look at Wayne’s decision to leave the club as a walk out, but in retrospect, it’s probably the best thing for the Knights. After a tumultuous year, it’s time for the Knights to return to their former coach of Rick Stone, and build a team based on the club’s roots – being working class underdogs.
Boyd should be bought the first bus ticket out of town, and some players put on notice. One positive is the significant investment the Tinkler regime made in junior development, with both Johns brothers citing the talent that will eventually trickle into to first grade.
Wherever he goes next should be aware of Wayne’s allegiance to Boyd and giving players another crack, because it’s hindering him as a coach. He may be a father figure for Boyd, but everyone has to grow, and neither will do that if they don’t experience something different.
Maybe Des Hasler, Trent Robinson and Michael Maguire have the tricks Bennet is now missing. Have the rest caught up to the supercoach?
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