Wayne Bennett admits he considered his Brisbane players’ pre-season workload before selecting just one Bronco in his NRL All Stars team.
However, the master coach has defended the glaring omission of Brisbane stars Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford from the February 13 showcase Gold Coast event.
Unlike the Indigenous All Stars team selected by a fan poll, Bennett hand-picked the 20-strong NRL squad unveiled on Monday.
And Bennett was the first to admit he also had his Broncos hat on when naming a squad that featured just one Brisbane player – star back-rower Corey Parker on the bench.
Initially allowed just one player from each club, Bennett had the chance to boost his squad with Broncos talent thanks to four additional “coach choices”.
However, Bennett said a hectic 2015 pre-season also featuring a trial against the Cowboys, the Auckland Nines and the expanded World Club Challenge next month ensured he had to be mindful of who to use from his Broncos stable at the All Stars.
“The game tells us what we have to do, they produce the pre-season,” he said.
“But on the other hand, I am the coach of the Broncos, so I can make decisions on who plays in what.
“And there’s nothing more important than starting the season with your best team on the paddock.”
Fans would have been forgiven for hoping to see Hunt in the All Stars clash after capping his first year as Brisbane’s starting halfback with a Kangaroos debut at the Four Nations.
And Hunt’s new livewire halves partner Milford has the NRL buzzing after relocating from Canberra in the off-season.
But Bennett did not back down on their omission, saying the squad was the best he could conjure with the selection policy provided.
Bennett said he had to quickly reassess his squad after the likes of Cameron Smith (ankle), Billy Slater (shoulder), Matt Scott (shoulder), Simon Mannering (personal reasons), Nate Myles (bicep) and Cooper Cronk (conditioning) became unavailable.
“The hard part about this process is that you can only take one player out of a club,” he said.
“Look at Matt Scott. I picked him but when he withdrew I went with Antonio Winterstein, so I went from a front-rower to a winger.
“It’s not straightforward.”
But Bennett had no say in the Indigenous outfit, which featured Brisbane’s Justin Hodges and Sam Thaiday.
“I said to Hodgo a month ago `what do you want to do’ and he said `I want to play’ – that was the end of the conversation,” Bennett said.
“He wants to be there and I think that is wonderful.”
However, Bennett was able to pick Paul Gallen for the All Stars clash – his first match since serving his doping ban.
The NSW skipper was on Monday included in a squad captained by Newcastle’s Beau Scott with Manly’s Kieran Foran and Mitchell Pearce of the Sydney Roosters as their halves.
Superstars Greg Inglis and Johnathan Thurston headline the Indigenous outfit, with new Cronulla recruit Ben Barba named at five-eighth.
dsf
Guest
Im buzzing, broncs are gonna be exciting to watch.
mushi
Roar Guru
So do you have an issue with him winning the golden boot or not being in the allstars having won the Golden boot? If its the former then I can’t really say as I don’t care who wins it. If it’s the later then why should the NRL care who won an award that factors in heavily play that goes on outside the NRL and is the opinion of many media who don’t have primary coverage of the NRL The NRL have their own awards, and I think only once in ‘99 have the NRL agreed with those media members that select the golden boot, so why do they need to be beholden to someone else’s?
CJ
Guest
Speaking neutrally, both the Indigenous All Stars team and the NRL All Stars team should be picked by the fans - NOT by any one single individual, even if that individual happens to be Mr Wayne Bennett (aka The Master Coach ("TMC"). But as a one-eyed Broncos fan I'm more than happy to have TMC make sure the Broncos involvement in this game is kept to a minimum. Although I like the concept of this game generally speaking, I'd prefer not to have any Broncos (or QLD] players injured in a such a meaningless game - and by meaningless I mean that this game has no bearing on the NRL premiership. I agree with 'bigmick1' - that the NRL should follow the NFL's lead and have a 2 week break between the NRL semi-finals and the Grand Final with the 'All stars' game slotted into the free weekend in between.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Did fifita not get picked in the indigenous? Or injured? Surely he makes it with them light on props
The eye
Guest
In fact if Wayne can't get this side home by 10 or more people will probably start putting more credence into what the citizens of Newcastle have long believed..
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Hopefully the class in the backs will get them through. They've put up a good fight with weak forward packs before
Jay C
Roar Guru
Also, the poor Indegenous team is going to get smashed 6 ways from Sunday. Look at the difference between the forwards. Ray Thompson? Tom L-L? George Rose? Against JWH, James Graham, Taumololo.
Jay C
Roar Guru
I am not in disagreement with any of that eJ. My concern is more of a philosophical one I suppose. The potential to be rorted, especially when he states unequivocally that he either did or would put Broncos first. I have said already I am not a fan of the concept and maybe that also clouds my judgement. But I will be so dirty if Hodges gets injured.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
I don't disagree with you there Jay C but if one guy is going to ensure this concept survives, and the best players available are selected, it is Bennett. After all the concept is his "baby" so to speak. I believe Preston Campbell first floated the idea to Bennett who jumped on it. Whenever the concept looks to be scrapped, Bennett is in there pressing how important it is for the Indigenous community. Sure he only picked one Bronco. But he also only picked one sea eagle, one rabbit, one eel etc etc. 4 teams always have 2 players in the All Stars side. Meaning 12 don't. I think too much is being made of Bennett only selecting one player from his club side. And in any case, who would he have picked anyway? Maybe Hunt over Pearce. That's it.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Maybe if it was just white Australians. But I guess having the Pacific island players, prevents the while racial notion by making the all star team multicultural
Jay C
Roar Guru
The picture on the right titled Indegenous and NRL All Stars squads Should be enough to make anyone think twice about this concept, especially Rabbits fans. But I am happy enough over here on the outer. I just think it is a dodgy set up. And for what reason is he sole judge, jury and executioner. Also someone tell me what Cooper Cronk being unconditioned means.
Renegade
Guest
I don't even think Ben hunt should feel hard done by... You are supposed to pick one player from each club, can't see who else apart from Parker would get picked for Brisbane.
Jay C
Roar Guru
or at least ahead of Winterstein/Brooks.
Jay C
Roar Guru
I can understand a concept without having to agree with it eJ. I just can't figure out why you would give this choice to 1 person who is the coach of a team and clearly states that his Broncos role comes first. Surely a committee or the fans or at least a coach with no full time coaching gig. It also seems unfair against a team picked by the fans without any real clue about how to construct a team. That is all I'm saying. I don't feel dudded or anything that there aren't more Broncos. I just think it is dodgy, or if it isn't dodgy it could easily be dodgy.
Noel
Roar Rookie
Respectfully, Mushi, I don't agree that there isn't an issue. Not questioning the value of Manu in an all-stars squad (wasn't he winger of the year or seomthing), but it is irrelevant that, one - the Golden Boot seems to have been given a criteria swamped by international football (noting of course the Sam Burgess placed second, and didn't feature in international football last year) and two, that if you're considered (rightly, or wrongy Jay C) the best player in the world, how are you not the first bloke picked in a rep team out of your own comp? That's the issue.
Jay C
Roar Guru
Like I said I would prefer my team playing in these sorts of matches, getting combinations fine tuned much more than a dodgy exhibition game.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Jay C Id be much more concerned about my team travelling to the UK for a nothing game, played in awful conditions.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Don't worry mate everyone except for Jay C understands where you are coming from.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
He said what he did -- there's no argument there, what I'm questioning is if he'd pick any of the Broncos players anyway if he was in a neutral position.
Jay C
Roar Guru
I am done with this conversation. The article is literally about Wayne Bennett saying the same thing as me and you refuse to acknowledge it.