It can be the best job in the world interviewing professional athletes and coaches but what if they give you absolutely nothing?
Roar expert Greg Prichard experienced the highs and lows of journalism in his 40-year career and had the privilege of interviewing sporting megastars like Pele and Ian Thorpe.
But one man proved to be a rather tricky prospect and continues to keep journalists on their toes.
That man is current Brisbane Broncos coach Wayne Bennett. The famous tactician has enjoyed three decades in the hot seat of rugby league and Prichard suspects he also revels in making life difficult for the media with his typically abrupt press conferences.
“I’m sure he makes it difficult deliberately – the vast majority of the time for the journos but that’s a good test for them anyway,” Prichard said.
Prichard always saw Bennett as the ultimate challenge to try and crack and get something meaningful out of.
“With people like Wayne Bennett you’ve just got to be ready to keep asking the questions and when he comes up with those one and two word answers, you have to have it in your head what your next question is going to be.”
“He is naturally difficult to interview and I’m sure he makes a point of it for whatever reason a lot of the time. You know, he’s trying to control what’s going out from the club and that’s his way of doing it a lot of the time I guess.”
While Bennett has endured his media commitments you can’t argue with his results from the coaching box. After almost 800 first grade games Bennett has been successful 62 per cent of the time.
Stay tuned for more insights from Greg Prichard’s journalism career in the coming weeks.
More Prichard:
» Super League memories two decades on
» Covering the Sydney Swans during Cappermania
Big Daddy
Guest
What's the old journo saying. If you can't write anything good about anybody don't write anything at all. Most journo s will write anything to get a headline.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Yeah Bennett, its torture listening to him being interviewed, with growling, grumpy answers, it must be easier getting a word out of a paper bag lol That is why the pommy press had a go at him as he's no diplomat for the game. Even though he's got a great coaching record but that is not all that is needed. Freddy seems to get a few words out of him on Ch 9, which wasn't the case at first on Ch 9, when Freddy interviewed him.
Nat
Roar Guru
Bennett openly admits he respects only a few journos because most have the same line of questions each week without real insight of the game just played. Same questions, same answers. They are going to write what they want anyway.
AGordon
Guest
I assume the author never interviewed Jack Gibson - he mastered the technique Bennett currently uses
Wild Eagle
Guest
If the Storm didn't enter the comp he might have had an unbroken run of grand finals with the big three and others on board. Forget about taking up offers from Nathan Tinkler if that was the case, how could any coach go wrong with such great rosters.