What Wayne Bennett wants, he usually gets.
And that’s what concerns Great Britain great Andy Platt after a club revolt derailed Bennett’s planned England rugby league World Cup training camp in Dubai in January.
Platt said seven-time premiership winning mentor Bennett had built his legacy on a “his way or the highway” approach.
And he feared Bennett may be tempted to leave the England job if UK Super League clubs keep standing in his way.
“He’s a man who usually gets what he wants and if he doesn’t he is usually out of there,” Platt told AAP.
“But that’s what he does. He identifies what needs to be done and when he doesn’t get it he might put it in the too hard basket which would be sad.”
Bennett had already picked 17 players to attend a fortnight-long camp in late January in a head start for the 2017 World Cup, after England crashed out in the end of year Four Nations semi-finals.
Bennett had stressed the camp and a mid-season international in May were essential parts of his World Cup plan.
However, in an embarrassing about face, ruling body the Rugby Football League backed down on the camp after Super League coaches complained about the pre-season disruption.
And Wigan great Platt – who earned 25 British caps from 1985-93 – predicted more friction from SL clubs for Bennett.
“He has the ability to change any side but he needs to be able to do what he needs to do,” Platt said of Bennett who is contracted to England until next year’s World Cup.
“But will he get the backing of the clubs? Probably not.
“In the UK the clubs rule the roost.
“It’s been going on for years – even back in my day.
“I think it will be a hard road for him.”
Platt slammed the RFL’s decision to pander to club bosses and scrap the camp as “short-sighted”.
“If you do the same thing you get the same results,” he said.
“You have to change something and he (Bennett) has highlighted something and all of a sudden he hits a road block.
“It is short-sighted from the England point of view.
“Can you imagine if Australia had not won the Four Nations and Mal Meninga called for a similar camp in Dubai?
“I would dare say he would get his way.”
Bennett must now concentrate on England’s World Cup warm-up Test in May – a clash with Samoa in Sydney.
But Platt could not see any club versus country solution in sight for Bennett.
“Not without the clubs kicking and screaming,” Platt warned.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Not for the four nations players. They're lucky to be back before the new year. So are the players having clean up surgeries in the off season.
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
Preseason starts November 1 in Australia. Not in January.
swamprat
Roar Pro
Half the team missing along with the coach. Seemed a costly Jolly that was thankfully scrapped.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
They shouldn't allow the camp to be in Dubai full stop. After all, rugby league is illegal in the UAE as an independant entity
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
January is too close to the beginning of the season? That's when a lot of players just start preseason in Australia.
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
I would just like to say that I doubt whether Michael Maguire would allow the Souths, English internationals to participate in a camp in Dubai in January. It is way too close to the beginning of the NRL season, Madge wouldn't risk any of them!
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
World Rugby Numbers in 2015: In 2015, the total number of registered players increased from 2.56 million to 2.82 million while the total number of non-registered rugby players rose from 4.47 million to 4.91 million. More than one million children were also introduced to the sport via World Rugby’s Get Into Rugby programme during the year. England: Total Players is 2,057,797, Registered players is 340,347. Australia Total Players is 615,809 with 230,663 Registered. New Zealand 148,483 for Total and Registered Players? League in England 248,645 Registered players. It is more popular in the North of England in Yorkshire and Lancashire. http://pulse-static-files.s3.amazonaws.com/worldrugby/photo/2015/03/05/61b7a966-a65a-4952-8b71-74bed89a8d7c/WR_2014_Player_Numbers.jpg
swamprat
Roar Pro
The stark reality is there are only 2 teams that England can play in any meaningful contest. That it would benefit the domestic game if England wins is true but hardly a panacea for all the problems of the Super League. The demise and liquidation of Bradford is an example of the sports bad management , especially when the farcical Introduction of a Canadian team , Toronto, with its roster of Yorshiremen is "Invented".
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I'm of the view that a successful England national team will mean a successful domestic competition. I understand the pressure a weaker competition places on the national team but, and to use marketing terminology, the RFL have to work smarter in rebranding the Lions.
Mark Campbell
Guest
Does anyone have actual figures to support any claims? How many registered players do Union or League have in England? How many viewers do each get when on TV? As far as I know (I could be wrong) League has a higher amount in both, but due to Union having a greater reach across the UK they can demand more for TV rights. Be mindful that Union greatly dwarfs League due to the income generated by the International matches and rights. This helps explain why England RU can pay for any quality players/coaches RL produces. What this means for Bennett and English RL is that he will have a smaller pool of talent to draw upon and this effects not only England's chances of winning, but also the quality of the domestic competition as well. Both factors limit the games potential to grow and/or succeed. I know, this seems pessimistic without offering solutions however a successful World Cup and more international exposure for the England team could start to rectify the situation.
Yoda
Guest
Well said swamprat
swamprat
Roar Pro
The class division re rugby is much overstated by Parra. The difference is more geographical now that Union is professional. Leagues stagnation and frustration at its lack of expansion can be put down to its own Incompetence and mismanagement. Continuing to blame the "Toffs" at Twickers is an easy and self defeating way to deflect criticism .
Tripehound
Guest
Pulling the piano would be hard enough, pushing it - even harder!
duecer
Guest
On par with RU in England - not even the most optimistic RL fan in the UK would say that!!! Maybe in the late 50's they may have been close, but the gap has been widening ever since. Hope Bennet doesn't go, it's one of the few chances RL over there will have to gain some of their lost ground.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Wouldn't you have to pull the piano with a piece of string ??
Les Boyd's Elbow
Guest
Well said Parra
Parra
Guest
Couldn't of said it better. The longer I lived over there the more division based on class I saw, experienced. In oz most people follow a sport based on what they enjoy watching which is why rugby union is doing so badly, however in the U.K. They'll support rugby union even when they enjoy other sports more. It's that mindset, stuffiness that I'm glad to leave behind. It's good to be home.
Tripehound
Guest
Believe it or not mate, in this day and age, but it's basically still a case of class war in the UK. Whilst paying lip service to the equality lobby, there is a malevolent rather than egalitarian attitude towards RL from the big wigs at the RU, the main broadcasters and mainstream media in general and all being cut from the same (public school/Oxbridge) cloth this filters down through executive level within a lot of corporations. Although this is a simplistic summing up of the situation RL still finds its self trying to push a piano up hill with a piece of string.
Parra
Guest
i lived in the U.K. For ten years and of all the sports I watched enjoyed Superleague the most. Great value for money and always entertaining. The game domestically is on par with rugby union however it seems to struggle attracting corporate support and secure the same fta and sky tv rights value. I'm always at a loss to explain this, a game that is far superior to rugby union but also a game that people would like to disappear. The BBC presenting of the game was an embarrassment compared to rugby union. Anyway, moving on, the game needs an image change and somehow needs to secure more corporate support etc. more money, more growth, means retaining players etc. unless England can produce and retain stars then it will fail on the world stage, simple.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
It makes it much tougher when the clubs fight you every step of the way and your employers give in to them. To be completely fair though I believe 2 weeks was a tough ask. I suspect maybe Bennett assumed he'd be negotiating how long the camp would be for and the RFL just said yes to his first ask of two weeks.