Wayne Bennett has always been a forward thinker, a career coach who has prided himself on his man management skills for over 40 years of coaching.
There are hundreds of stories the 68-year-old could recall where he went above and beyond to assist a young player into coping with not only the full time demands of the NRL, but also this thing called life.
Bennett has also never been afraid to make a big call, always putting the team and club first.
No better insight into the super coach’s way of thinking was when he sensationally opted to not renew the contract of Wally Lewis in 1990.
Lewis had become a polarising figure at the Broncos, and despite his glorified history as one of the greats of the game, king of Origin and Emperor of Lang Park, Bennett could find no reason to retain the gifted five-eighth.
A decision that would rock all Broncos supporters and teammates, Lewis reluctantly accepted an offer as captain/coach of the Gold Coast Seagulls.
Bennett had moved on one of the greatest players to play the game, as he felt he no longer was the right fit for the emerging powerhouse club. This put all current and future Brisbane players on notice.
Broncos coach Wayne Bennett (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
With such methodical planning, Bennett bought home the club’s first Premiership two seasons later in 1992.
This was the beginning of a destiny for the Bennett-coached Broncos. The following season – and they are last team to do it) they again held aloft the Premiership trophy for consecutive Premierships.
1997 saw a Super League title victory, before claiming three more NRL titles in 1998, 2000 and 2006.
Bennett has been a brilliant coach, with extraordinary results where ever he has coached – excluding his controversial three year-75 game stint with the Newcastle Knights, which represented Bennett’s worse career win percentage ratio at 45 per cent.
Bennett’s coaching career sits above the 60 per cent range, certainly putting him in elite company and quite remarkably as he approaches his 800th first grade game.
To move forward you have to see what others don’t, Bennett for so long has been the master of his own destiny. Today marks an historical moment in time for the man who is used to calling all the shots.
Brisbane have long held Craig Bellamy in high regard, and now the highly successful Melbourne coach has $5 million reasons to seriously consider moving north, after guiding the Storm for the past 16 seasons.
58-year-old Bellamy has been at the helm of Melbourne for over 400 matches and has an un-comparable winning percentage of 68 per cent. The timing of Brisbane’s interest could not be better as Bellamy is off contract and seriously considering whether the time is now right to depart the most southern NRL club.
Instead of Bennett deciding his immediate future, it now looks as though the Broncos will have the final say. Like many players previously under the watchful eye of the super coach, who have been told their time is up, the same now seems likely for the former Queensland and Kangaroo coach.
Despite being contracted for season 2019 it is Brisbane’s preference to allow Bellamy to slot into the role next season and have offered him a four year deal.
Behind closed doors Bennett has been given the respect and grace he rightfully deserves, to decide what best suits him for next year. Negotiations have not taken place with other Sydney clubs but they are sure to be interested should Bennett decide to continue doing what he does best.
For any decisions to be made in the immediate future, we await what Bellamy decides to do. He has two offers in front of him, one from Brisbane and also one from the Storm, who have stated they will do all they can to keep him.
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