The Broncos have made a sizeable gamble by re-hiring Wayne Bennett as their main man, but it had to happen for the club to reposition itself as one of the NRL superpowers.
Despite moderate success in his three seasons at Newcastle, Bennett was clearly the best coach on the market and the Broncos would have been foolish to stick with Anthony Griffin, who is a solid performer but seems to lack the Midas touch.
Did nice guy Griffin have a premiership title in him? The answer is maybe. Can Bennett win a seventh title at Brisbane? The answer is ‘more than likely.’
Now that Brisbane has snared their man, there cannot be excuses for the club to finish anywhere but near the top of the table next year and beyond.
The Broncos roster, dotted with established stars and emerging talents such as Ben Hunt, Dale Copley and Matt Gillett, is among the most impressive in the competition and it will be even more formidable with the addition of the precocious Anthony Milford and, more than likely, Darius Boyd.
Bennett’s signing doesn’t guarantee success but with the players at his disposal, he should have the Broncos challenging the likes of the Sea Eagles, Bulldogs, Roosters and Storm for the major prize.
I see exciting times ahead for the Brisbane faithful but there could be problems fitting so many stars into the main 17.
If Darius Boyd returns – and many are saying that is a certainty – where will that leave Ben Barba?
Boyd will play fullback, Hunt and Milford will be the halves which suggests Barba will be a benchman at best. In my opinion, Barba can’t play anywhere but fullback and it’s hard seeing Boyd getting replaced every week in order to give him a run.
And where does Bennett’s return leave Josh Hoffman, a more than handy fullback who can also play five-eighth?
It’s clear to me that not every player will be happy that the Bronco legend is returning to the club he steered for two decades.
But the club’s administrators feel he is the man to lift Brisbane to their former glory and when you look at the big picture, it’s pretty hard to say that it will fail.
With a modest player list, Bennett took the Knights to within one game of the grand final last season which was an achievement for which few have given him credit.
This year has been bitterly disappointing for the Knights with constant drama over Nathan Tinkler’s finances, some major off field issues with players and the tragic injury suffered by Alex McKinnon.
Bennett stepped down on his own accord. After three years he said he could do no more and that his methods and systems were not working.
There are critics who say Bennett is too old for the modern game and that his return to the Broncos will end in failure.
It’s his last NRL contract and I think it’s a pretty good bet that he’ll win at least one title over the next three seasons.
chivasdude
Guest
I don't know if WB is too old to coach in the modern NRL, but beyond his coaching record I think Alex makes a number of good points that we should consider. It has bothered me that he has walked out on contracts (or agreements - whether documented or not) in the past and Alex has listed these. He has not always left situations better off for his involvement. Not a great example to set when you are an acknowledged "father" figure and "maker" of men. And please let us not spout off that "it is a business". That argument can be used to argue for good and bad behaviour. Has our compassion for WB's plight of having children with special needs made us excuse these actions? Anyway, I certainly commend his care for his family and acknowledge his right to maximise earnings to look after them. It is just that this all seems such a backward step for the Broncos and I feel for a good coach now out of a job.
Alex deLarge
Guest
Perhaps Andrew, but Bennett is due for a change in karma. He is the guy who dishonoured a contract at the Raiders to go to the Broncos. He walked away from an agreement he had with the Roosters before bickering with all and sundry at the Broncos to sign with the Dragons. He left the Broncos in a shambles and stole 3 or 4 of its players. He also left the Dragons in a shambles and took 4 or 5 of that club's best players with him to the Knights. Now he takes off from the Knights with a year left on his contract when that club needs him most. He has been the worst coach in Newcastle history and he leaves the Knights in a shambles, just like he did to the Broncos and Dragons. It's been all about Bennett benefitting Bennett financially.
Scott
Roar Pro
Seems like a desperate attempt to win the league. Can't blame the broncos for trying to keep up with the Roar.
Andrew Kennard
Roar Pro
I think that is a big call to make Alex. I think Bennett's strength has never been as a coach, but as a motivator. Moving to the knights at the age of 60+ may have been a bridge too far, but I think there is logic enough behind his appointment at the Broncos. He still holds immense sway in Brisbane and if he can get the players to play for him, as they have in the past, then they will see the results. I assume this must be the boards thinking at least.
Alex deLarge
Guest
Success is unlikely for Bennett at the Broncos. Reports have it that Bennett has lost the trust of the Newcastle dressing shed, so it seems that at 64 he is too old to relate to the modern footballer. Bennett has had three seasons at the Knights, backed by a billionaire, with all the advantages of a one team rugby league loving town, yet he has returned the worst coaching results in the history of Newcastle. Despite having a fat chequebook, and supposedly being able to attract the best players because of his legendary status in the game, Bennett only signed a motley crew of aging players, some of whom were rejects from other clubs happy at landing one last paycheque before retirement. The great Jack Gibson was only 60 when he lost the coaching knack at Cronulla and at 64 Bennett has also crossed that line. Bennett used to tell his players that it was better to leave the game a year too early than a year too late. Wayne should have followed his own advice.
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
Just posted this on another site, it is more relevant here. Retrograde step for the Broncos, Bennett is yesterday’s man. I thought that his best was behind him when he left in the first place. He did well at the Dragons but has failed at the Nights. Bennett and Stuart are at this point in time the most overrated coaches in the league. Hook has done a good job with the cattle that he has had at his disposal. Lets see if Bennett does any better. I’m very doubtful that this will be the case. The Broncos do not have the stars that were around in Bennetts prior time and he will struggle just like Hook has been doing. I hope that Hook goes on to either win the final or go very close to winning. IMO he is a very astute coach and will have no trouble getting a job anywhere.
Zedman
Guest
During his golden run with the Broncs,and it has been well documented,Bennett had a rep side to work with so you would have to think the salary cap of the day was either over looked in the Broncs favour or they were paying several players well below market value.The old chestnut that players went there for less money to be coached by Bennett and win a title is bandied about but imo you do that a couple of times then the money thing is too big to ignore .Tallis was ropable when he found out Bennett was copping under the table money,goes to show what's more important to Benny.
john badseed
Guest
nobody?
Duncan
Guest
Pardon me for being cynical but I wonder if Bennets appointment is little more then a publicity stunt to improve the crowds in Brisbane which haven't been great this year for what the Broncos expect, particularly for a one club town. In my opinion if Bennet has a bad first year you'll find he'll have a early release clause in his contract .I'm actually dreading watching the Broncos as all we'll hear is even more drivel and rubbish from the Nine crew if thats actually possible
Parrafan
Guest
Yep he identified and snared a certain Cameron Smith and Billy the kid from north of the tweed. Has an eye for junior talent and seems to be a nice bloke and took the sacking on the chin. I'm sure he will find a gig somewhere else, maybe back at Melbourne post Bellyache
Tigranes
Guest
He did have a virtual state of origin side at the broncos
Midfielder
Guest
WB IMO has never had success with an ordinary side ... my mark of a top coach is the person who can take and ordinary side and constantly win titles and make finals...
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
I'm not convinced Bennett is quite the master coach that he's usually portrayed as. He had a dream run at the Broncos and then the Dragons threw bucket loads of cash around in order to secure a premiership. The fact that it all fell apart so dramatically after he left doesn't speak very highly of his ability to set in place ongoing coaching structures at a club. And his time at Newcastle has hardly inspired either.
MAX
Guest
Crosscoder, as usual you are correct. This issue also confirmed that Lachlan Murdoch is the de facto head of the NRL. The 3RD party deals between WB, CH9 and whatever LM adds will be a real challenge to the 'Miracle Worker' to justify and NRL auditors to decipher. With a virtual Test side WB was labelled genius. He will need all his connections and legal brainpower to 'buy' a premiership in a three year stanza of no return.
JDB
Guest
Hook was in charge of recruitment for the Storm in Qld and eventually became Assistant Coach at the Storm prior to Craig Bellamy's arrival.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Like Jack Gibson at his peak,Bennett could be classified as a master coach.Trouble is since his Premiership with the Dragons he appears to not only have peaked but gone downhill. Using the argument he can do no more for Newcastle with some of the talented players they have on deck,surprised me.If he has run out of ideas with an NRL side ,then who is to say he will be a miracle worker at the Broncos. He obviously wants to maximise his earnings at the latter stage of his career,but that is no guarantee of success. IMO he has stayed around as a top coach too long.A coaching director would be more up his alley now. I really admire the guy,as a father,public figure and confidant to his players,but that is a seperate issue to his coaching now.
old guys rule
Guest
What was Hook,s involvement in R.L. when those named players were signed up by the Storm....how was he able to do that? Seems he has excellant credentials that unless you were a Broncos fan you woundn,t know about,,,,,,,,no wonder Lockyer and Tallis praise him
john badseed
Guest
Wow, the 'Thin White Duke' vs 'The Gnome of News'. A classic power play, however, I know who my money is on.
JDB
Guest
I think it's pretty harsh to question Hook's ability to win a premiership with the Broncos. His win percentage (during the same time) is higher than WB's since taking over the job, and I think you would also find that Hook's win percentage is probably similar to WB's in their first couple of seasons each at the Broncos. I rate both men, but in the modern game I would take Hook and I believe he is one of, if not the best minds in the game. The often forgotten fact is that the Broncos dominant run stalled under WB, but was primarily caused by the Broncos missing Smith, Slater, Cronk etc, the man who signed those players to the Storm was none other than Hook. Before this, the Broncos rarely missed a target in Qld.