The rant by Wayne Bennett about the unfairness of golden point after the Brisbane Broncos lost the NRL grand final to the North Queensland Cowboys was perceived by many to be sour grapes.
His side had just lost a hard fought game in which they had sought to defend their way to victory. They Cowboys scored with zero seconds left on the clock, tying up the game and sending it to golden point.
Bennett’s comments – where he said that golden point was unfair and that grand finals should be replayed – could be perceived as sour grapes, but perception is not always reality.
Sure, the timing of Bennett’s rant didn’t do him any favours, but he’s been saying for several years now how the NRL should call a draw a draw if two teams are locked together at full time.
On reflection Bennett would have to admit that to replay the NRL grand final in Sydney a week later would have been both logistically and financially unrealistic for a large percentage of the fans who travelled long distances to watch the grand final.
Rewind to the 2013 AFL grand final between Collingwood and St Kilda which was replayed after they were both locked together at full-time. The crowds were near capacity for both matches, the major difference was that both teams were Melbourne based and Collingwood has the largest supporter base for any club in Australia.
However expecting both sides to come back to Sydney next week would be unfair and unrealistic.
What would be more fair though would be to either have the match decided by a ‘golden try’ or two 10-minute periods of extra time. That way if a player makes a mistake or a team kicks a field goal early on in extra time it still gives the other team an opportunity to fight back.
It would test the stamina and resolve of both teams to the limit, making for an even greater spectacle.
Mat D
Guest
When they complain it's about blatant refereeing mistakes and blunders. In the case of the so-called "Master Coach" it's because he lost. Ben Hunt's shocker + trying to defend a 4 point lead for the final 20 minutes = LOSS. Now that's the Bronco's fault. They have to wear that and move on. Excuses and being a sore loser won't change history. They are the facts.
scott
Guest
If master coaches know how to lose graciously then I doubt you can include Bellamy, Hasler or Tooves on the list.
Mat D
Guest
Come to think about it, the title of "Super Coach" should be awarded to Craig Bellamy. He has transformed nobody's to stars. His teams have always been in the Finals series with the exception of 2010 ( we all know why....not his fault ) His teams have won Premierships. The Storm play with discipline and cohesion. Like a well oiled machine. Great to watch. They have a dynamic youth program. He has shown enormous loyalty. Playing a whole season for no points and then winning a Premiership two years later. Other excellent coaches include Trent Robinson, Des Hassler, Paul Green, Michael Maguire, Tim Sheens, even good old Geoff Toovey. These guys all have runs on the board too. Maybe in the NEW era of the NRL we have been too quick to label a certain person as " The Master ". Master Coaches know how to lose graciously. :-)
Maverick1990
Roar Rookie
EXACTLY! He's been doing this for his players for years
Muzz
Guest
More like deflection from the master coach who's covering his ars after a poor tactical decision to defend such a narrow lead. He should be grateful that JT didn't turn the 4 into 6 which gave his team a 50/50 chance in golden point.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Self serving commentary has been a hallmark of Bennett this season; defending the indefensible draw that benefited the Broncos at the expense of other clubs, whinging about the Storm wrestling when other sides including his own did the same (hell, if you want to get technical it was Bennett who brought wrestling into Rugby League with hiring Chris Haseman back in the late 1990s), and now complaining about Golden Point after his team went into turtle mode for 20 minutes instead of trying to win the game.
Mat D
Guest
Because he just lost a Grand Final and that is not the time to voice an opinion that the way they lost is unfair. Why couldn't he congratulate The Cowboys like a good sport is supposed to do, and wait a few days to repeat what he has already told us ie: He hates the Golden Point system. His timing was pathetic. Just look at the press conference. A really bad look for a losing coach. How about if coaches started complaining about Bennett's 14th man on the field, Alfie. He spends more time on the field than the "benchies". Good coaches just cop the Alfie antics week in and week out and don't complain which they have a right to do. There are so many aspects of the game that we can all complain about, but we wait for the right time. Like in forums like this. I just hope "Super Coach" has realised his bad timing was in poor taste and the tag " poor loser " just may hang around till at least next season.
Pat malone
Guest
With a scrum 10 metres out the Cowboys probsbly would have scored a try anyway
Pat malone
Guest
They have plenty and they deserve it.
Poppy Schrod
Guest
Please !! some people just want to believe in the negative. Wayne Bennett has never showed that he is one to comment on sour grapes. He has voiced his opinion on this system of golden point for years so why the negatives.
Mat D
Guest
Exaclty, it looked so bad. I can't imagine Craig Bellamy or Trent Robinson losing the plot like that after a loss. Just cop it and move on. I will be interested to see what happens next season if The Broncos win a game in "Golden Point". Will "Super Coach" say it was unfair to the losing team. :-)
Blanket Jackson
Guest
You only have to watch the press conference to see it was sour grapes. Hodges handled himself well. Bennett did not.
Mat D
Guest
Bennet has been a great coach over the years but now it's a new game. He works well when he has great defensive coaches on his team. He also has far more success when he has great players to work with. His success is due more these days to the fact that he is a good man manager than a coach as such. It's a shame that he couldn't praise The Cowboys after the Grand Final, rather he had to emphasise the "Golden Point" situation as unfair. He also has probably only now come to terms with the fact that the score was 17-16 in favour of The Cowboys. His comments really were bad timing and unfortunately comes across as a sore loser and sour grapes. No doubt his teams loss will create a burning desire to undo the defeat of this years Grand Final. Both The Cowboys and The Broncos will grow enormously from the sensation spectacle we all witnessed on October 4, especially a player named Ben Hunt.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Bennett is the most influential coach in the game, one of the most powerful voices in Queensland and a member of the rules committee. If he has an opinion on anything in the game it gets reported. I'd say that's still plenty of power and influence
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Bennett went after Golden Point to deflect away from Ben Hunt. It worked, we are focusing on what Bennett said, not Hunt's error.
RMC
Roar Pro
Had Bennett just said 'I don't agree with golden point, I think grand finals should be replayed', then I could accept that as fair opinion. But when he says things like 'the Cowboys weren't better than us, it was 16 all after full time' and that golden point was 'most unfair here tonight', I think that is sour grapes. These two quotes are also proof he wouldn't of have said the same thing had the Broncos won in golden point (although he almost certainly would have still been against golden point in general). The Broncos should of had the advantage of having first use of the ball in golden point, and had the opportunity to win the game without letting the Cowboys use it. Furthermore, in regular time the Broncos played not to lose, rather than trying to put the result beyond doubt too early. And if the Broncos really deserved to win, they would of scored again and won the game in regular time
Mat D
Guest
I've said this before and I'll say it again. It’s a shame the so called “Super Coach” Wayne Bennet couldn’t have been more sportsman like in defeat by congratulating the Cowboys win without throwing in the “unfair, it’s just a lottery” comment after being beaten in Golden Point. I expected more from him. Would he have said that if The Broncos had won. Good coach who works well will good players but needs to accept defeat graciously. Bennett lives back in the dark ages where a draw meant a re-play the following week. This is 2015…………we get the result on the day and move on. Imagine the logistics and preparation required to do it all again 7 days later. Pure madness. Face it Wayne, Cowboys beat your Broncos, Both teams will take a lot away from this brilliant contest and be better teams for it. Just a congrats would have been nice without the, but………..( excuses ) By the way Bennett, the real full time score was 17-16 Cowboys win. That’s not unfair to anybody. The ” Golden Try ” sounds like a good idea however, you are forgetting the infamous video ref. What happens if a Premiership is decided by a controversial interpretation of a try, or if the video ref is wrong. At least we can all see the ball go between the posts with a ‘ Field Goal “. Too much controversy this year with the video ref imagine if they decide who wins a Grand Final. All hell would break loose. Then Bennett would have a field day with his possible “bad sport” comments if he loses.
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
Didn't say he wasn't a good coach, just that his sphere of influence in now just the Broncos, not the NRL.
matth
Guest
The answer is both. It's a fair opinion, the timing was sour grapes.
Samtwocan
Guest
Bennett losing power and influence huh ? Thats the same Bennett that just coached a team that wasn't expected to make a grand final to a grand final . Five minutes each way in the finals only is a fair solution ... Then golden point if it's still tied up .