Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett is calling on the NRL to release a schedule for the opening week of the finals earlier to help teams prepare adequately.
Bennett says he’s unsure if his team will draw any benefit from wrapping up their regular season on Thursday night with a 24-14 win over the Sydney Roosters at Suncorp Stadium.
Victory over the Roosters lifts the Broncos into fourth spot on the ladder for now but with fifth-placed North Queensland playing on Saturday against Gold Coast, Bennett won’t have a realistic idea of where or when his team will play their finals opener until the end of the weekend.
The seven-time premiership coach says the NRL need to publish a schedule for the opening week of the finals much earlier than they do currently.
“We don’t know what we’re doing to be honest with you, it’s a bit weird, I think we should know,” Bennett said.
“We should know what fifth and eighth are doing. We don’t know what days we’re training … not earlier in the season, but I’d like to know it now.
“Whoever they are, five and eight will play here on a Sunday or Saturday or whatever. I think we deserve that.
“If we don’t know by Sunday if we should be back training by Sunday then we’ve missed a huge advantage.”
If the Cowboys can’t defeat the eighth-placed Titans and sixth-placed Canterbury fail to make up a 44-deficit in their points differential to the Broncos against South Sydney, Brisbane will earn a finals second chance with a top-four finish.
Bennett though isn’t so bothered with that scenario.
“I’ve never regarded it as a life and death,” he said.
“We’ve won premierships here from finishing outside the four. The important part’s to be playing well.”
The Barry
Roar Guru
He's not whinging he's distracting. Classic Eastwood...
Footy 101
Guest
What he's saying might not be a bad idea to also help footy fans plan a possible trip to the game. Bigger crowds at semis can't be a bad thing.
Jara W
Guest
We all know Wayne and his diversion tactics. But even by his standards this is a truly bizarre thing to say. So a Bulldogs v Panthers final in Townsville is a better outcome than having to reschedule a training run? Surely I am misinterpreting this.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Wayne realises that whoever they play next week will be on a shorter turnaround, right? By 2 days at a minimum. How many more advantages does this guy want before he stops the incessant whinging?
Bulldog
Guest
If there is one coach in the competition who should not be whinging about scheduling it is Bennett
Sir Alfie
Guest
As a diehard Broncos fan, all I can say is "shut up Wayne". Your constant gripes and surliness are an embarrassment, and your contempt for the media, and in turn us fans, is unbecoming!
Lovey
Guest
I find Bennet's rudeness to reporters post-match very unbecoming. He might not blow up like other coaches, but likes everyone to know he is there under sufference. He "answers" questions as though the asker is an idiot. He is big name insider. Such public whinges are out of line.
rakshop
Guest
Irony (noun) - a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often wryly amusing as a result. Example: The Brisbane Broncos whinging about scheduling.