Wayne Bennett is not surprised his Dolphins have gone backwards since their outstanding opening month in the NRL.
The competition’s newest club won their opening three games to sit second on the NRL ladder before a narrow loss to Brisbane in round four.
But they have gone on to taste defeat in eight of their last 10 to slip to 14th ahead of Saturday night’s away clash with the Sydney Roosters.
Coach Bennett was at the helm of Brisbane in 1988 when they had a team full of State of Origin stars but were not attuned to the grind of the NSW Rugby League (NSWRL) competition of its day.
That Broncos side won five in a row at the start of the 1988 campaign but faded as the season progressed. It has been a similar story for the Dolphins of 2023. “I don’t think we have grown,” Bennett said.
Connelly Lemuelu. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
“We have gone backwards, to be honest with you, if you look at all our stats in the first month and look at since then.
“That was part of the season. That was part of the hype and everything that has happened to us … but I don’t think we have improved throughout the season.”
The statistics back Bennett up.
In the opening four rounds, the Dolphins were averaging 24 points per game and conceding just 17.5.
The figures show their attack is still holding up, averaging 21.9 points each match, but they are conceding 26.6 per game.
“I expected it to happen. I didn’t think we’d be able to hold that standard we set in the first month for the six months,” Bennett said.
“With the lack of experience we have in certain positions it hasn’t surprised me. You hope it doesn’t happen but it has.
“The NRL is a grind. I know myself. I am getting to that stage of the season where you are getting a bit tired.
“Players are no different. I have done it so many times and lived it so many times that I know how to handle it.
“A lot of these guys haven’t (previously) played the number of first-grade games they have this year.”
Rookies Valynce Te Whare and Isaiya Katoa, and second-rower Connelly Lemuelu are among a group of players who have not experienced week-in, week-out NRL.
“Look at Katoa, he probably had his best game last week,” Bennett said.
“He virtually had a month off. He was on the bench and we had a couple of byes. He just needed a break and to freshen up. He did that but you can’t do that in a season for everybody.”
Bennett said he was still proud of the grit and fight of his side.
“If you are a rugby league fan and you want to watch the Dolphins they keep you there for 80 minutes. They don’t give up,” he said.
“They keep coming. They keep giving themselves chances to win games. We will keep doing that.”
Tate states Haas waiting for Wallabies offer
One of the most respected voices in Queensland rugby league thinks that Brisbane superstar Payne Haas is waiting on the Wallabies to make him a contract offer.
Haas is set to hit the open market for NRL offers on November 1, with multiple clubs set to battle for his signature and an extension already in the works from the Broncos.
Maroons legend Brent Tate, however, backed Haas to swap codes and move to the Wallabies.
Speaking to Fox League, Tate said: “At some stage the Broncos have got to say ‘this is all we can afford to give you, we think it’s handsome, we think we’re rewarding you’.
“He’s either got to be happy to take it or not, but mate, I think he’s waiting out for rugby.
“There’s no NRL club that’s going to pay him $1.5 million, so for him to go to Sydney for $1.2m or $1.3m is a complete waste of time, you’d lose that in moving.
“I reckon there’s a rugby deal coming.”
Benji reveals Dally M pick
Benji Marshall has backed his former Kiwis halves partner Shaun Johnson to take out the 2023 Dally M Medal after his late career renaissance with the Warriors.
The Tigers assistant and Kiwis legend has been so impressed with Johnson that he tried to sign him for his current clubs. Johnson has subsequently extended with the Warriors.
“It’s no secret we tried to lure Shaun Johnson over the ditch,” said Marshall. “The way he is playing inside that team, I’ll be very surprised if he doesn’t win the Dally M.
“Shaun has always been one of my favourite players to watch and when he gets criticised, at times I find it hard to hear, because it’s unfair a lot of the time.
“If you watch his game closely this year he is putting his body on the line defensively – I think he’s got 92 percent tackle efficiency – for a half that is phenomenal.
“He is definitely their go-to guy and that’s why we tried to sign him.
“The way he is going, and given the Warriors results, he will be a big chance [to win the Dally M Medal]. He would be the second Warrior ever to do it, it’d be awesome.”
(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
Sezer set for NRL return
Aidan Sezer is on the brink of returning to the NRL after reportedly signing with the Wests Tigers for 2024.
Reports in the UK, where he is currently playing for Leeds Rhinos, are that he will link up with Jayden Sullivan in a new-look halves pairing with the Tigers following the departure of Luke Brooks to Manly.
Sezer is 32 and hasn’t played in the NRL since leaving Canberra in 2019.
His replacement at Leeds might well be another NRL name, Knights back-up half Adam Clune. Clune was wanted by Hull FC – ironically to replace his former halves parter, Jake Clifford, who has returned to Australia with the Cowboys – but Leeds are in pole position to land the halfback.
Matterson charged
Manly forward Dean Matterson was the only player charged from Thursday night’s loss to Penrith over a high shot on Liam Martin early in the second half.
He is facing a fine of $1000-$1500 depending on whether he submits an early guilty plea.
with AAP
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
Really, thought rugby props were short & stocky
Diesel 2.0
Roar Rookie
On the shorter side. Most props are now 6'2 - 6'7. Very few under that.
Tez
Roar Rookie
Too slow for both
London Panther
Roar Rookie
For me winning the comp would increase his value, particularly if he plays a big role in it. The question on paying big money for a prop is can they win you a big game; so being able to dispel that would add value (of course, he won’t win the comp; I thought they were already etching ‘Penrith Panthers, 2023’ onto the trophy). For me waiting till November is to allow real competitive tension into the bidding process.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Shouldnt but if he stars in a winning GF then recency bias kicks in. You only have to get 2 parties bidding against each other …
Redcap
Roar Guru
I'm sure Kylian's tired of fine dining in Paris by now. You can get lots of Báhn Mi and things on skewers at Darra for that money - he'd love it!
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
Might he be able to play as a Lock in Rugby ? Would he be a good enough athlete to be able to play alongside an elite lineout jumper ?
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
As I understand it, he would be too tall to play in the front row in Rugby.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
Who said anything about the contract making sense ????
andrew
Roar Rookie
Several hundred dollars :laughing: that would probably be his daily lunch bill at one of Brisbane's fine dining establishments.
Nat
Roar Guru
That’s fair but (best case scenario) he wins a comp does that add more value than what a club would pay for him now?
Nambawan
Roar Rookie
Far more 'rest' breaks in union than league, and previous time and motion studies have shown that ball in play time is much longer over 80 minutes in league than in union.
GhostFacePilfer
Roar Rookie
He would never be able to play prop. The scrummaging is too technical. I agree (like others) he has the body shape for 8 and maybe at a stretch 6. But I don't think the Wallabies would sign him to play 8 given Valetini is world class. If I had to guess, I think Eddie would try to make him into a ball running 12, in the same mould as Sam Burgess for England and Sonny Bill for the All Blacks. I'm not suggesting he'd be successful but that's what I think they would try and do - use him as a crash ball specialist or decoy merchant at 12 and then play out the back on second phase.
London Panther
Roar Rookie
But that Broncos offer will still be there come November 1. He is backing himself that by then he will have increased his value, both through play and demonstrating interest from other clubs. I am of the other mind to you; why do players ever sign extensions before testing the market.
London Panther
Roar Rookie
I think of all the props in league though Haas would have the best chance. He has endurance and greater speed than many of his fellow props. Not saying he would be a success, as he wouldn’t have the subtlety required, just that he has the physical tools.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Apparently there's a fierce battle raging between St. George Willawong and Brisbane Strikers, and there's said to be several hundreds of dollars involved. :shocked:
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Thx. Make sure you alert the Roar rugby Eds too.
Nat
Roar Guru
That’s where the biggest rorts happen. $20k putt with the club Chair- completely legal. Agents don’t like that though. If it’s on the books they get paid. Off the books they risk not getting paid or being found complicit if they do.
Adam
Roar Guru
Yeah the agent is no doubt keen to get the higher priced deals over the line. Play a round of golf with uncle Nick with a friendly wager on the line
Houston
Haas will not do well in union and will go running back to league after a season. The skills required to compete as a lock, flanker or 8th man in union take years to learn. Just the ability to compete for the ball in todays game will leave Haas completely exposed. And he may run a few hundred meters in league but that is nothing compared to what he will have to do in rugby, together with tackling and playing the ball, scrums and line outs. League back line players may have a chance in union but moving to the union forward pack from league, no chance.