Wayne Bennett hasn’t made many blunders in his phenomenal coaching career – he has seven premiership titles to illustrate his exceptional judgement.
But in choosing to bed down with the Newcastle Knights for five years, the master mentor may have tripped himself up big time and placed his world famous reputation in jeopardy.
The Knights have been, at best, ordinary all season and last week against the Gold Coast Titans, they embarrassed their fans and the great man, himself.
Saturday night coughed up a lamentable home loss to the Titans. It was Newcastle’s third straight defeat, leaving them 11th on the table with only four wins from 11 games.
Granted, teams can struggle to conform to an incoming coach’s concepts, playing patterns and man management style, but these Knights don’t seem to be conforming at all.
They are devoid of attacking imagination, their defence can crumble alarmingly for no apparent reason and the passion that was once the trademark of any player who wore the blue and red jumper, looks to be a relic of eras long gone.
Sure, Newcastle has had a few setbacks with injuries to key personnel but there was enough class and quality assembled to put on a far better show than we saw last weekend.
Three of the club’s major signings – Darius Boyd, Kade Snowden and Timana Tahu – weren’t sighted off Nobbys in the 14-24 loss. Where was the two-try Boyd we saw and admired a few nights earlier in Origin 1?
The grunt and grind was pretty much left up to new recruit Willie Mason, a veteran who at least demonstrated heart and pride in the Knights playing strip.
The proud Novocastrian fan-base clearly loathes what is being served up. There were boos and jeers before, during and after that Titans game and crowd figures for home appearances are starting to wane.
Could Bennett, himself, be on the wane? Is he losing his Midas touch? Maybe.
He has been at the coaching caper since 1976 and his old school methods might not be suited to this modern generation of footballers.
Bennett was a guru, a god, of rugby league in Queensland and he had fantastic material to work with throughout his two decades at the Broncos.
With lesser quality, he was just as effective when he switched to St George Illawarra and collected another premiership. They dubbed him Saint Benny there, and Dragons fans are traditionally very hard markers.
Like many league followers, I was keen to see what Bennett could achieve with this club which represents a great, grassroots rugby league city, but I worry that he isn’t commanding the player respect he has enjoyed at previous venues.
He is talking but they are not listening.
As a team, the Knights aren’t putting in on a weekly basis. A few individuals are trying hard but not all of them in unison.
Schoolboy errors are hurting Newcastle badly. Poor discipline in possession and a penchant for conceding penalties has become a very concerning norm.
Point-scoring has become a serious problem. Newcastle teams have rarely had trouble crossing the try-line since the club won NRL status in 1988.
To be frank, the team performed better last year under local man Rick Stone and finished in the top eight.
How long will the club’s major benefactor, Nathan Tinkler, tolerate such mediocrity? He doesn’t suffer fools, he punts them out the door.
Perhaps there is time for Newcastle to turn things around and rise to a respectable position on the 2012 NRL ladder but can anyone see the Knights win anything but the toss in the weeks ahead?
Coach Bennett remains patient and loyal with his player roster and keeps assuring supporters there are good times ahead.
He has put his world famous reputation on the line but I fear it is in danger of getting trampled.
Tim Prentice
Expert
He probably wouldn't risk a dollar guys. And it is getting worse every week . . .
Meesta Cool
Guest
Underestimate Wayne Bennet at your peril, The guy will bring Newcastle back into the eight, if not this year -- then nexT!.
Kyle & Ange
Guest
I wonder how much of Bennet's million dollar salary would he be willing to bet himself on those twits this season of landing in the top 4?
Woody
Guest
The Bennett aura has gone in a diametrically opposite direction to his ego. When he disrespected St George-Illawarra by putting his own interests above those of the club he demonstrated flawed integrity, and unless he rectifies that glitch in his professionalism the Midas touch will not return. Self-inflicted.
peeeko
Roar Guru
i think you are a bit harsh on Gus
81paling
Roar Rookie
Good luck to Wayne, at least he is still putting himself on the line, he is offering and giving what he can, not just taking from clubs and pretending that he is a super coach to protect his win loss record like Gould. Neither Bennett or any other coach will ever stand against the likes of Gibson or Lombardi but at least they will stand cop it on the chin and we must give them credit for that, Bennett is not crawling off into the shadows to collect a commission or consultancy fee for services that are worthless he is standing as a coach with his reputation on the line and deserves to be given space and total control of next years playing roster. If they fail then well then look to Bennett he knows and will take responsibility, the slogan trust in Wayne is true, if Wayne can not do it he will fall on his sword, he is not like Gould who will simply leave ensuring his very lucky record that came about due to flukish circumstances and the hard work of others stays in tact. Bennett is no Gould he deserves a chance, he will feel every loss as much as the fans do, he is not there for the quick dollar, he is putting his reputation on the line and other like Gould should do the same and stop with their cowardice ways, they should do the same with theirs and stop just making as much money as they can with their limited skill set that in particular Gould knows he could never hold because he was so lucky to get it in the first place. Bennett is indeed a super coach, he is not as great as Gibson (simply because Jack was such an innovator and revolutionised the game) but, he has a great record and he continue's to place himself on the line, like a super coach must. Give him time and give him credit but most of all give him trust. He will give everything he has until the final whistle and those close to him will let hi know when the game is up but, for us the fans, if your team is lucky enough to acquire such a talent then he is one to be looked after cherished but given the all the resources without question that are requested.
Matt
Guest
The whole game has changed in a year. Simply scoring more points than your opponents is no longer a viable strategy :p Dragons had the one main set play (left edge), what got them over the line was their defence. Their ability to complete sets. Same as the broncos... they're a good team, individually they don't have the flair that some other teams do. The knights aren't completing their sets, aren't defending, and then aren't scoring points. Warriors, Tigers etc can (sometimes) get away with pitiful defence because they can often score tries at will and simply aim to outscore the opposition. You can do all the coaching in the world, if the players don't put it into action then it's not much good.
Matt
Guest
Make that 3 wins out of the 8. Will be a christmas miracle if they manage to beat the broncos this week.
warren
Guest
We need to remember that Wayne coached a near QLD side in the form of the Brisbane Broncos so without sounding too critically most senior coaches could have won with those sides. Correct me if I am wrong but the salary cap was not in for many of those years. Secondly I find the sides he coaches to be the most boring of teams to watch. He teaches great discipline but this comes at the expense entertainment. Putting this aside however from what I see his greatest asset would seem to be his relationship with his players. They look up to him not only as a coach of a footy side but a coach of men and how they should act. Further to this he has shown that he will not let any player not matter how good they are to be part of his team if they have either played up badly or let their ego get in the way of the rest of the team. Punting Julian O'Neil and even the great Wally Lewis for these reasons shows he is a man of conviction.
Tobin
Guest
Under a good Coach, players are better. Where was Jamie Soward in the Origin I reckonig this year? No where, under Bennet he got a Blue Jersey, probably the only one he will see in his career.
Matt Blomberg
Guest
Nathan Brown?
Chris
Guest
"his old school methods might not be suited to this modern generation of footballers." FFS - the man won a Premiership just 18 months ago!
Dan
Guest
Why are all these people saying he's an overrated coach? Firstly, how would you know? Have you been to a training session or in the sheds? Secondly, if he's overrated because he has only won premierships with great sides then every premiership winning coach of the modern era is overated, look at the last ten years premiers and there players Stuart 02 roosters- Fittler ricketson fitzgibbon minnichello Morley crocker cross Lang 03 panthers- Gower galavou puletua Campbell priddis Rooney Lewis wesser Folkes 04 Dogs- asotasi price omealy mason Sbw anasta thurston sherwin patten elmasri vagana Sheens 05 tigers- Marshall prince Richards heighinton Farah hodgson skandallis Bennett 06 broncos- Lockyer webcke hunt civoneceva Carroll berrigan Bellamy 07 storm- Inglis smith cronk slater Hoffman white folau (salary cap) Hasler 08 manly- Stewart Stewart Lyon Menzies kite perry king hodkinson foran Bellamy 09 storm- Inglis cronk smith slater (salary cap) Bennett 10 dragons- soward Scott morris Boyd hornby Weyman costigan smith Cooper gasnier Hasler 11 manly- Foran cherryevans Stewart Stewart Williams Williams matai watmough ballin kite king rose buhrer So there you go everyone of those coaches had good sides but are they all over rated? Doubt it! Please stop bagging one of the games great minds, supercoach Bennett -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
jamesb
Guest
Look, Bennett is an outstanding coach I still think he'll turn around the Knights, but it might take a bit more time. The one questionable thing I have when he arrived at the knights was he let go, of a very capable hooker in Isaac De Gois, and brought back 34 year old Danny Buderus from England
Tigranes
Guest
When Bennett was at the Broncos, he had access to a virtual state of origin team and a fair chunk of the kangaroos. I always wondered how the Broncos were able to have the team they have and still be under the salary cap. When the Broncos entered the comp, there should have been two Brisbane sides brought in. Ewen McKenzie has done a better job with the Reds, gosh I remember when they came last after losing 92-3 to the Bulls in 2007, 4 years later they were the winners. Has Bennett taken a team from the bottom and made them premiership material?
Tim Prentice
Expert
Yep, Pot Stirrer, I am on your train. Bennett saw the potential at Newcastle when he signed and has already started his rebuilding process. (You correctly pointed out he signed for four years, not the five year deal I thought he had penned). I suspect there will be another purge of players at season's end and that more star quality footballers will be signed. But the current players and the new ones he attracts, will need to knuckle down and perform like the Knights of old. The current group doesn't seem to have the pride and passion that characterises all Newcastle sporting teams. Wayne Bennett can certainly coach but he will need 100 per cent commitment from his players, not the dross and drivel we are seeing in the current season. Stand up Knights against Brisbane this weekend! Your supporters deserve so much better than mediocrity.
Tommygun
Guest
Rugby League has only ever had two coaches that have earnt the title; "Supercoach". Jack Gibson and Wayne Bennett. Write Wayne Bennett off at your own peril.
Tim Prentice
Expert
Not sure even WB could save your mob, Steve.
sheek
Guest
Tim, Ahhh - "horror movie, right there on my TV". That would be Skyhooks in the 70s (again, right on vintage!!!).
Tim Prentice
Expert
And professional journalists are also entitled to view an opinion Tock. Just like you.