Rugby league is no place for the faint-hearted, which slots Wayne Bennett, Corey Parker, and Cameron Smith into a very special category.
Bennett is already the code’s most successful coach with the most games and the highest winning percentage, while Parker and Smith will have a ding dong head-to-head battle for the NRL’s most appearance record.
They are three extraordinary legends of the sport, yet still firing with plenty more left in the tank.
Bennett is 66 years young, he’s been coaching since 1987, holding the clipboard for the Raiders, Broncos, Dragons, and Newcastle, before going back to the Broncos again.
All up that’s 748 games, a record, with 466 wins, also a record, to go with 268 losses and just 14 draws.
Wayne Bennett’s NRL winning strike rate – 62.30 per cent.
While those figures are huge, it’s what Bennett has had to do to achieve them that amazes.
That’s well over 3000 training sessions in rain, hail and sunshine.
I find it hard to get my head around how Bennett has been able to not only keep his keeness level high, but his ever-changing rosters keen as well over nearly 19 years.
That’s a high quality communication skill that also covers being a second father to the younger fraternity under his command.
While Wayne Bennett is the undisputed premier coach with seven premierships – six with the Broncos in 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, and 2006, with one at the Dragons in 2010 – Jack Gibson, and Tim Sheens deserve salutes as well.
Droll Gibson’s career spanned two decades – 1967 to 1987 – to become the coaching trail-blazer of the 70s and 80s, clocking up 394 games with Eastern Suburbs, Dragons, Newtown, South Sydney, Parramatta, and Cronulla.
His CV reads 139 losses and nine draws in winning five premierships with Eastern Suburbs in 1974 and 1975, and Parramatta in 1981, 1982 and 1983.
Jack Gibson’s NRL winning strike rate – 62.18 per cent, just fractionally lower than Bennett’s.
Sheens is right up there with four premierships – Raiders 1989, 1990, and 1994, adding the Wests Tigers’ victory in 2005.
All up from 1984 to 2012, Sheens coached Penrith, Canberra, Cowboys and the Tigers 669 times for 340 wins, 318 losses, and 11 draws
Tim Sheens’ NRL winning strike rate – 50.82 per cent.
That leaves us mere mortals wondering how 33-year-old Corey Parker, and Cameron Smith at 32, can constantly remain at the top of the ability tree.
Today’s rugby league doesn’t take any prisoners, and with both Parker and Smith spearheads in attack and defence for their clubs, it’s a credit to their dedication, fitness, and durability they have survived and have every intention to go a lot further.
Parker’s 331 NRL games, and Smith with 316, are both well on track to beat Darren Lockyer’s all-time record of 355.
Both will go higher than 355, then it will be a matter of true longevity as to whether it’s Parker or Smith with the appearance honour that will take some beating.
One thing for sure, there won’t be another Wayne Bennett, Corey Parker, or Cameron Smith around for a long, long time – if ever.
The only real selection debate for Billy Slater has been settled by Kalyn Ponga’s untimely foot injury. Newcastle’s captain was probably unlikely to get…
Back to the Future is the future for junior clubs In rugby league we are pretty good at looking back, so good that sometimes…
All the team list information for Round 8.
Tipping last round was supposed to be an easy one. But a Friday night of carnage ruined the round for most tipsters. The Warriors…
The younger brother of NRL star Nathan Cleary, Jett, has inked a three-year deal with the New Zealand Warriors to start in 2025. Cleary,…
The rugby league community is in mourning following the sudden death of former Kangaroos centre Terry Hill from an apparent heart attack in the…
