With the news that the Newcastle Knights have signed St George-Illawarra Dragons star Beau Scott for the 2013 season, Wayne Bennett has now lured four ex-Dragons to his new club.
Darius Boyd, Alex McKinnon and Adam Cuthbertson all left with him at the end of last season.
There are also reports that the poaching of players from the Dragons is far from done, with Australian Schoolboys hooker Cameron King also on the radar of the Knights, along with whispers that another high profile Dragons player has made overtures about breaking his contract so that he could join Bennett in Newcastle.
The Knights aren’t slaying the Dragons. They’re recruiting them.
With the addition of Dragons players, some fans have been asking whether a Bennett premiership with the Knights will be as impressive as his other competition victories. The criticism is based on a sentiment that Bennett would simply be winning another competition with the Dragons; but in Knights jerseys.
First of all, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We’re only into round two of the season, and the Knights have won one game and lost one game. They are not assured of the title this year, or any year. So proclaiming Bennett’s title with the Knights is somewhat tarnished is supremely presumptuous; they haven’t even won one yet.
Secondly, yes Newcastle are building an impressive squad. But to suggest it’s a reincarnation of the Dragons is stretching the truth a touch. Of all the Dragons recruits, only Boyd and Scott were integral players for the Saints. Two ex-players? That’s hardly reason to label the Knights as ‘Dragons-lite’.
When Bennett left the Brisbane Broncos for the Dragons, he faced quite the challenge. The club had a history of under performing, earning the very unwanted ‘chokers’ tag.
However, the perception that he came in and turned the exact same team of losers into winners is historically inaccurate. The Dragons brought in players like Jeremy Smith, Neville Costigan, Luke Priddis, Michael Weyman and Mickey Paea.
And Bennett also brought Darius Boyd with him from the Brisbane Broncos.
In other words, Bennett recruited for the Dragons every bit as much as he is doing for Knights. And his premiership with the Dragons isn’t ‘tainted’, so why would a Knights one be?
Lastly, it’s the responsibility of every club in the NRL to put the best possible team they can on the park. Recruitment is a major part of rugby league. No team is going to win the competition with a completely ‘home grown’ squad; a list exclusively made up of juniors that were brought up through the club’s system.
Each year, every single club signs new players. It’s then the responsibility of the coach to do the best he can with that squad.
And each year, fifteen coaches go home empty handed.
Seven times, more than any other coach, Bennett has been the one still smiling in October.
It is an extremely impressive feat to win the NRL title, and whichever coach wins the competition deserves all the kudos that come his way.
The answer to the question in the headline is a resounding ‘yes’. It would be a very impressive feat for Bennett to lead the Knights to an NRL premiership.
Should Bennett bring a competition victory to the Hunter Region, people are free to believe it would be the least impressive of his NRL premierships, if they choose. But I would disagree.
And even if you do choose to feel that way, it’s like saying Britney Spears is Justin Timberlake’s least impressive girlfriend.
I can assure you, there are many coaches who wish they went home with Britters.
So to speak.
Charles
Guest
All I am saying and keep saying is that Wayne Bennett is a good coach but a Master Coach, no way! I never said that Stephen Price is his equal neither. I was just indicating that his coaching with the Dragons last night was exceptional! He had them doing what the Dragon fans wanted them to do and knew they were capable of doing. The Dragons should have won last year but Wayne Bennett failed to lift them to the next level Last night perdormance was that next level, it showed what they are capable of The hard part, of course, is to keep doing it each week but at least Stephen Price showed what can be done In regards to the Morris twins I have always said they would go well in the centres for NSW or on each wing However they have never had that opportunity or out of form It could be a thought for NSW selectors to have them in the centres They will compete with each other to who gets the most tries The perfomance of Brett Morris last night showed what he is capable of when given room to move I am sure his brother may be the same.
sheek
Guest
A1, Yes, I was merely reinforcing the point.....
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Ok for Wayne.So far two losses and against the Sharks his team's line was broken at least 7 times,and only the inept handling and bad options from the Shark's players prevented his side not only from losing, but getting thrashed in the process. With the money outlaid,the ccattle on the field and the expectations ATM one could barely give the Knights a pass mark. When the Knights throw the ball around and run the angles and let the Uates of this world express themselves,few can beat them.Trouble is I get the feeling ,they are playing the Bennett safety first approach.
baller
Guest
we have won 2 premierships without his money mate - i think you all over play the tinkler hand all the time. we were useless last night but theres along season to go mate
Gaz
Guest
I guess you'd have to say to begin as coach of the Broncos with Lewis, Miles, Dowling and most of the Qld Origin side to win a premiership was not that spectacular especially when you sack Lewis in the process. St. George also were hardly a secondary side either and we're continually knocking on the door. Bennett no doubt has a gift that eludes coaches such as Smith when it comes to final football but Newcastle is entirely a different kettle of fish and I have my doubts the great coach is up to it. Mark my words it's going to be interesting in Novacastrian country when Tinkler wakes up money doesn't always buy a premiership. Just ask Russel Crowe, bet it's cost him a bob or two so far to come up empty handed. Newcastle were ver pedestrian against a green Broncos outfit tonite and really not sure if they can escape the wooden spoon on that effort.
A1
Guest
Pretty sure the Dragons won the premiership in 2010. Price has done absolutely nothing yet. The Dogs gave the Saints a serious touch up last week, so let's not appoint Price as Bennett's equal just yet.
A1
Guest
Isn't that the point he made?
Charles
Guest
My point of view that Wayne Bennett is a good coach but not a master coach was proved tonight by Steve Price, a rookie coach that took over from Bennett. The Dragons tonight played the best game for many a year, they were simply outstanding! They were doing things that I have been crying out for and knew they were capable of, if encouraged. If a rookie coach can produce that kind of football what does it say about the so called Master Coach who had them for two years and they were never that good! Thanks PLANKO for defending my comments! You can always tell when someone is wrong when they resort to name calling, they think their knowledge is superior! Noel, express your opinion by all means but respect others, otherwise you are the twit!
sheek
Guest
Ryan, Okay, I'll accept that. As Shaamus says, Bennett is a legend Whether or not he wins a premiership with the Knights. But I like his chances all the same. And I don't think he actively or deliberately set out to deplete St.George. Boyd will go wherever Bennett goes, & I think some of the others had already made their minds up to follow Bennett as well. BTW, Jack Gibson's right-hand man Ron Massey went wherever Gibson went, plus a few others of the training staff. When Bob Fulton went back to Manly from Easts in 1983, he took quite a few players with him - Boustead, Cleal & one or two others whose names escape me. Ryan, Whoever these people are making these assertions must not read any history, or desire any knowledge before about 2000. Bennett is doing nothing different from so many coaches & players in the past, over 100 years of rugby league history.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
sheek, the point is that there has been plenty of chat around a Bennett/Knights premiership being tainted because of the perception he has merely poached Saints players, hence the title. I then used the article to debunk that theory.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Bennett is complete rubbish? Wow. Just. . .wow.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Manly are the defending premiers - no one is sleeping on them.
Shaamus
Guest
There is nothing wrong with taking players from your previous club to your next. Bennett was recruited to win premierships by Nathan Tinkler which everyone is seeming to forget. @Sheek: Regardless if he wins one or not with Knights, fact is that he is a modern day master coach in the game where today you have a near even standard across all clubs caused by the salary cap and clubs trying to get every little inch out of technology and equipment. He is in a class of his own.
Pete75
Guest
Geez. The quality of the blog today is.... errrr..... outstanding. Who let the dogs out?
PLANKO
Guest
Mmmm WOW Get on the Manly hating band wagon. Your ridiculous personal attacks make them stronger and you smaller. You dream about having a halves that can tackle. Dream on KEN ... Newcastle ran at that weird little man all night for a reason in the first game for a reason. Nobody ran at Self important Tooves like that or Hasler or DCE ! Everybody ran at Blake though ... I will give you that.
sheek
Guest
Ryan, The content of your article differs from the banner headline. The headline is rhetorical, isn't it? Of course a premiership with the Knights would be very impressive for Bennett. But then the bulk of your article talks about recruiting, or "pinching" players when Bennett changed camps. What's wrong with that? Some coaches, like Bennett especially, attract a loyal following of players & support staff. Bennett's talisman is Boyd. If Bennett wins premierships at 3 different clubs, that represents an awesome achievement. And if he attracted players from his previous clubs to achieve that, then more glory to him!
PLANKO
Guest
Watch and learn Ryan ... Bennett is not a genius. Look in books St George did get very close though please. Remember they did loose one to Melbourne. What clubs ring them up and ask them !! Most clubs could not afford the walking ego. The rest have real talent at their disposal. Watch Manly buddy .. ROOKIE Coach.. Have spent less than Newcastle and Brisbane. The team is made up of people noone wanted. Bennett will get showed the door before he goes of his own free will.
Ken
Guest
Just to clarify I'm both a Novocastrian and a Dragons fan by birth, so I have a soft spot for the Knights but don't really care how they go. I'm not sure how much blame clubs can take for losing players though when they have lots of juniors, there's only so many spots on the team and so much money under the cap. You can certainly bag them for making individual poor choices in who to keep and who to let go but mostly us critics do that with the benefit of years of hindsight. The Gasnier decision obviously didn't go well but, despite very few superstars gracing it's team lists in the NRL era, the Dragons are a team that rarely misses the finals and has never found itself at the bottom of the table in modern times so they do OK.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Underestimate the influence of a coach at your own peril. I find it hard to fathom the fact anyone would think Bennett isn't a genius. If St George were so good without him, how come they never won? Take it as fact that 12 to 13 clubs would sign Wayne Bennett if he showed interest in coaching their team.
PLANKO
Guest
Keep the hype going Noel SUPERCOACH is complete rubbish the under 8's Coach of St Marys could have coached Brisbane ! His ability is all HYPE and no action. Buy a team win something then leave and take them with you ... What a Legend ! Please sir I believe you are the TWIT Bennett will be booed out of Newcastle in 3 years ..