Wayne Bennett is arguably the greatest coach in the history of the game, but is he the best coach now? If you were in control of a club that needed a coach and you had your pick of them, with money not an issue, who would you go for?
I had a bit of a think about it first, but not for too long. After about 10 seconds I picked Des Hasler.
I don’t mean to be flippant by saying I made up my mind so quickly. I realise there are plenty of good coaches in the NRL. Apart from Bennett and Hasler, you’ve got Craig Bellamy, Trent Robinson, Ivan Cleary and Michael Maguire, just for starters.
But Hasler appeals to me as the type of coach who could go anywhere in the modern game and do anything.
His recent effort in producing a game-plan that included the use – successfully – of Tony Williams as a playmaker in the absence of regular Canterbury halves Josh Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson against Manly was brilliant.
It was the sharpest display of thinking by a coach this season.
After winning two premierships with Manly, Hasler took the Bulldogs to the grand final in his first year there, in 2012. They lost to Melbourne. Last year, the Bulldogs were eliminated from the finals in the first week, but there were excuses for a disappointing year.
Notably, the off-field dramas surrounding fullback Ben Barba and his disappointing form on the field.
A few weeks ago, I didn’t like Canterbury’s chances of winning the premiership without an established fullback, but I’ve since changed my mind. If anyone can get away with that it’s Hasler. The way he uses all of those big boppers in his side is fabulous.
When Bennett announced last week he was pulling the pin on coaching Newcastle at the end of the season, he chose his words carefully.
He said it simply hadn’t worked there and he had to take responsibility for that, and because it was going to take a while to rebuild the Knights it was better for someone else to take charge because he didn’t have that length of time to devote to the job.
There is a reasonable school of thought that Bennett should have stuck around at Newcastle and tried to help them beyond this year, rather than put them in the too-hard basket.
It will be interesting to see if he now signs for as long as three years with another club apart from Brisbane, which would be a partnership that would at least take him home.
It will also be interesting to see just how much of a real push there is from other clubs for Bennett. St George Illawarra are already well in there on the hunt, but how many others will make a genuine attempt when they know they will have to offer huge money just to be a contender.
Bennett is 64. Tim Sheens, 63, and Brian Smith, 60, have clearly reached their use-by dates or they would still be coaching in the NRL.
Bennett, with his record seven premierships, was naturally going to be afforded a longer stay, but could it be that he may decide to hang on a bit too long in a younger man’s game?
Bellamy is Bellamy. He won two premierships with Melbourne that were later stripped from the club because of salary cap cheating, then he took them back to win another.
Robinson had a blinder last year, taking Sydney Roosters to the premiership in his first season in the NRL, but he faces an ongoing challenge in trying to get them back to that consistently high level this year. He’s running out of time to get it right.
Maguore has had South Sydney thereabouts, but now he needs to get them to take that extra step to a grand final appearance, at least. Cleary has already been to a grand final, with the Warriors, and now he has the Penrith team he and Phil Gould revamped heading in the right direction.
But right now – unless the Roosters can get back to their level of last year – the team Hasler coaches and the team he used to coach, and which he built, each look like grand finalists.
That says a huge amount for him.
Meesta Cool;
Guest
Any team with a forward pack big enough and fit enough to knock houses down just by running at them, should wi8n a game even if Donald Duck coached em.. Last week they bashed Melbourne into submission and will do the same to most opponents.. I said it two years ago when they were building this pack, barring Injuries, they will be unstoppable. Still can't understand how they pay for em all though...
james t
Guest
Ever since 2008 des hasler has been the best coach.
Ben
Guest
Manly fans would love it, No comment about Geoff Toovey, Under the radar again lol.
Jayson
Guest
Totally agree, All over people saying the big 3 make him look good, He made those big three and deserves credit for every part of those big 3, I believe those 3 players wouldn't be who they are with Craig Bellamys coaching work ethic.
JP
Guest
PauliPaul We love Des Hasler. Great player and coach with incredible energy to succeed in the game, but still no 6/7 premierships. Bennett was big enough to admit he couldn't fix the team or culture at Newcastle. Time to move on. There were plenty of kids that could have represented from the Broncos that never made it because they did not buy into Bennett coaching and they subsequently went nowhere with other clubs. Bennett is not currently the best performing coach, but like all success stories he has a strong work ethic and a record that speaks above all else. Nobody remembers how they were won, just how many. Bennett's systems worked and when they didn't he changed. His success also came from the head office not just the players. Look at the clubs that have failed with a great roster, but crap head office. Jarrod Hayne is still overrated. Great natural skills and abilities, but often lazy (poor passing) and inconsistent (only now having a good year after so many quiet years - must be the improved coaching and back office). The Broncos in Bennett's time may well have let him go in those lean years - who knows. Coaches coach, players play. There are legend players and legend coaches. Wayne is on of them.
JP
Guest
All up Pony Halloway went on four overseas playing tours. He won seven premierships as a player and four as a coach. He stands as the Balmain's most successful all time coach winning 79% of the matches in which he guided the club. He was involved in the game at the top level either as player or coach in a career spanning 37 years. He was awarded Life Membership of the New South Wales Rugby League in 1914.[3] In 2007 he was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame.[4] In February 2008, Halloway was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL and ARL to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.[5] "Wikipedia"
Paulipaul
Guest
Jp so do all players become superstars because of the coach?? Should lockyer credit all his success to bennett? Whilst were at it maybe jarryd hayne should credit all his success to Jason taylor who gave him a spot on the wing in 06. Your argument is pathetic. Back then the broncos were the power club in qld, and for a time the only club so they had access to every junior in the state so naturally bennett and his recruitment officers found the best talent easily with no competition that's not rocket science nor is it a sign of a master coach. Bennetts time at the broncos was a dream position for any coach and any coach would of won premierships. I'm not saying 6 like bennett did but many premierships. Bennett is a great man manager but master coach I will never agree with. Look at what hasler has done with the bulldogs without a superstar and this year without a fullback.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
jacks You are on drugs if you rate him. When he arrived at the Storm he was well below his best. He was recruited for his toughness and although his missed a heap of games, he was good for the club. If that is the best you can come up with then my point is well made.
JP
Guest
Yes. All the things he doesn't believe in. So he obviously sacked himself because he knew he couldn't change the habits of some players enough to get a grand final win.
JP
Guest
Where do you think all of these best players at the Broncos came from? They all arrived at the Broncos as nobodies. The only established rep players recruited were Lazarus, Kevin Walters, Dale Shearer (didn't last) and Peter Jackson - not to mention the inaugural team including Wally Lewis (Wynnum Manly), Gene Miles, Colin Scott, Greg Dowling, Greg Conescu, Bryan Neibling - none to win a grand final. The rest all learned their craft under Bennett and all earned their rep stripes under Bennett. He earned every single grand final victory along with his players.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Bellamy used Cam Smith at halfback for a game or so when Cronk was injured, Ennis going to halfback for the Bulldogs was not in a dissimilar situation (with three halves unavailable) and in the same manner also only lasted one game before good changes were made because it turns out neither are good in that spot. Brown is acting as a fill in fullback and considering the game against Melbourne on the weekend was his third in the position (this year anyway, probably at the Bulldogs in general) I'd say he did pretty well.
Brad. H
Guest
Ah C'mon how could anyone go past the greatest coach of our time Ricky Stuart , ask him , he'll tell you how great he is. .....sorry folks, couldnt help myself . :-)
Anakin
Guest
Maybe .. yet he was hardly a superstar at the time!
Anakin
Guest
Did Hasler switch clubs just to test himself elsewhere? I think not; I think you'll find it had more to do with the club itself .. and whilst the Storm respect Bellamy and are prepared to support his WINNING ways, then why move. If it aint broke, dont fix it.
Anakin
Guest
Everyone talks about Bellamy without the big 3 .. but think about it, who created the big 3?! Rome wasnt built in a day, and Bellamy has consistently made average players very good (some, great) players!
jacks
Guest
Bellamy poached Mick Crocker from the Roosters
eagleJack
Guest
DCE and Foran played in the NYC for 2 years at Manly. Hardly "up and coming first graders". That to me is junior development. No, they aren't from the tiny catchment area of Manly. But Lockyer wasn't from Brisbane, so I guess he wasn't a Broncos junior
Ken
Guest
Fairly certain Bellamy has said he will retire from coaching at the end of his contract in a few years time. Plenty of time for him to change his mind about re-signing with the Storm or another club by then of course.
Ken
Guest
I agree with everything you say except Brett Morris was not playing reserve grade in 09 - he made his Australian debut that year. He was a regular first-grader in '06, out for almost all of '07 with injury (giving Josh a run), he might have had a couple of early games in NSW Cup coming back in 08 but he was well and truly the first-choice winger again by the time Bennett was signed. Nightingale made way for Sailor in 08/09 but got the spot back in 2010. Apart form that I'm with you. Bennett can claim at least as many success stories at pulling journeyman players from nowhere to rep stars - Weyman and Costigan being some of the most obvious. I have nothing against Bellamy but people make out he's some mythical figure who could suit up the nearest cleaner and make them a star when his record here is no better or worse than many others and he has the benefit of throwing them into a team with mega-stars.
Ken
Guest
Yep and Foran was picked up from Norths in NSW Cup, DCE from Mackay Brother's in QCup - I don't have any problems with this except when some label it junior development. They weren't developed they were bought as up coming first graders from other competitions. I think Watmough is a genuine Manly junior though.