Bennett not to return - Signs with Knights

[GCBRONCO]

IMO: If WB wanted to prove himself, he should have signed with Souths.

Although it was between Souths and Knights if he wanted a challenge then I reckon Raiders IMO would have been ideal for him as he has unfinished business there plus that club has a lot of issues needing resolved, much more of a challenge then what Souths have to work with especially talent wise.

 

[m1c]

Can someone pool room that post of AP's so we can trot it back out when Bennett wins a premiership at Newcastle. It's amusing how much AP's current rating of Gidley conflicts with all his previous.

Put it there so I can quote it when Newcastle don't win a premiership with Bennett there. But of course that won't be his fault, will it? When his team wins he gets the credit, when they lose he gets none of the blame.

And what do you mean my previous rating of gidley conflicts with that one? If you take a look at my post I didn't say ANYTHING about how good or bad I think he is lol. He is the nsw captain, he has played for aus, and Bennett got to choose 2 players for the all stars team, and gidley was one of them. All fact, no opinion whatsoever lol.

Bennett has 4 years. He, and my opinion, will live or die on whether he achieves a premiership. Nothing else. It's a shame that rather than appreciating the great man turning yet another club into a premiership force, you'll be too busy manufacturing the ifs and buts to suit your agenda.

And this is from the first couple of pages that come up when you search the forum for 'Gidley'

rugby league rep selectors have always been too much like the aussie cricket selectors - they just choose the guys who have 'been there done that', despite the fact that there are many other players out there playing better who could get the job done even better. its why players like Gidley keep getting chosen

well Australia were down to 15 men before half time, and had to replace a center with Gidley, so is it *really* any wonder why we didnt run away with it?

Gidley, i have to wonder why they keep picking him?

He's a real player, isn't he?

 

[Flutterby]

In AP's defence (I seem to be doing a bit of that lately) he hasn't changed his tune on Gidley - his post here doesn't say he rates Gidley. Oxy asked someone to list Newcastle's rep players an AP did that - without comment, just stating his is a NSW, Aust and Bennett-chosen All Stars rep.

 

[Big Pete]

I see Newcastle as a much bigger challenge than Canberra.

Canberra is a side brimming with junior talent, with players who are a year off finding their best and senior players finding their way. They're struggling at the moment because of injuries but at full strength they'd be top 4 certainties under any coach.

Newcastle on the other hand are the ultimate diamond in the rough side. Some good players, who had their runs but they've never been able to sustain them for more than a season.

 

[GCBRONCO]

I see Newcastle as a much bigger challenge than Canberra.

Canberra is a side brimming with junior talent, with players who are a year off finding their best and senior players finding their way. They're struggling at the moment because of injuries but at full strength they'd be top 4 certainties under any coach.

Newcastle on the other hand are the ultimate diamond in the rough side. Some good players, who had their runs but they've never been able to sustain them for more than a season.

Canberra may be a side brimming with junior talent at present, but they have shown over the years the inability to retain that talent and maintain a winning culture for any real length of time, they also don't have the financial benefits and stability the Knights will now have and having someone of Bennett's experience and reputation would do wonders for a club who you have to look back to the mid to late 90's to see as a real force in the competition, the Knights on the otherhand have been more competitive for longer periods in the last decade. He would also have the added incentive of giving back to the club who had given him the opportunity to coach in the NSWRL.

Theres a case for both sides in the end.

 

[Big Pete]

If you take it that far back but if you look at the Knights post Joey and the current situation Newcastle presents the biggest challenge.

 

[GCBRONCO]

If you take it that far back but if you look at the Knights post Joey and the current situation Newcastle presents the biggest challenge.

Newcastle have shown improvement in recent years compared to the early post Joey years and now with the private backing are positioned far better to fortify their future, retain their talent and recruiting and thats the thing though Big Pete, Canberra have been in limbo for far long and have shown good periods only to fall back into the old position of being ok but not really progressing, Bennett could really change that and given the timeframe of the last time they were a dominating force it is more of a challenge. I'm not saying going to Newcastle isn't a challenge, but if it was all about challenge, the Raiders present more of a case IMO.

 

[Big Pete]

If anything they've regressed from when they looked like a potential top 4 in 2009 before Smith announced his departure.

Canberra on the other hand have been building ever since Furner took over and have the superior roster.

However I see your point and understand where you're coming from. I just don't fancy the Knights roster as much as the Raiders (at least on paper).

 

[GCBRONCO]

If anything they've regressed from when they looked like a potential top 4 in 2009 before Smith announced his departure.

Canberra on the other hand have been building ever since Furner took over and have the superior roster.

However I see your point and understand where you're coming from. I just don't fancy the Knights roster as much as the Raiders (at least on paper).

Talent wise your probably right Canberra are stronger in that respect, problem is Furner needs to prove to his players that his worth investing their career at the club they won't stay there forever if he doesn't deliver soon, whereas if you bring in someone like Bennett to mentor Furner and the players they have real incentive to be there for the longterm, something the Raiders haven't had in a longtime.

 

[OXY-351]

4 years is a long time in Newcastle, I guess he will need the 4 years to turn the club around.

And if he does, it will all be due to Brian Smith's good work there :p

 

[Flutterby]

The arguement about Canberra, the Sharks or any other team being a greater challenge really is a moot point. Fact is Brisbane, Souths, Newcastle and Dragons were the only clubs that tabled offers or entered into discussions with Bennett. Pretty difficult for him to choose a club that didn't even asked him, just because it's a greater challenge.

 

[Big Pete]

I don't think that's really been ann issue since Furner has taken over. The biggest name they've lost was Monaghan and we all know what happened there. Of course there are rumours floating about that Dugan may become a Rooster but who knows whether or not that's true.

With that said, my reservation with Bennett going to Canberra is probably personal. There's something about the Raiders I don't like where as the Knights haven't really given me anything to dislike about them since 2002.

 

[GCBRONCO]

The arguement about Canberra, the Sharks or any other team being a greater challenge really is a moot point. Fact is Brisbane, Souths, Newcastle and Dragons were the only clubs that tabled offers or entered into discussions with Bennett. Pretty difficult for him to choose a club that didn't even asked him, just because it's a greater challenge.

To be fair flutterby I wasn't making it out to be he was going there I did say it was between Newcastle and Souths. Rather if he wanted to go to any club for challenge he could have seen if Canberra were interested.

 

[Flutterby]

Maybe he did see if Canberra were interested and they said "actually Furner is contracted and we aren't prepared to consider breaking that, thanks"

Plus my comment wasn't just directed at the discussion on here, but pretty much every article I read anywhere has people saying "oh this club or that club etc would have been more of a challenge - it's not about a challenge at all for him" and other bitter comments to that extent. It was just here that I vented my frustration.

 

[Raw Boned Youngster]

Tinks won't have to worry about coughing up much of his promised $10 mill per season... the corporates will be falling over themselves to get on board to take care of that now that coach Bennett has signed.
Piggy Burraston had the trifecta during his tenure - the media, big business and the pollies all detested the man.

Fortunately, the Wayne Train and Tinks have got that sorted.

Wayne will probably enjoy Newie, but he should move to Maitland to live.

 

[Anonymous person]

Bennett has 4 years. He, and my opinion, will live or die on whether he achieves a premiership. Nothing else. It's a shame that rather than appreciating the great man turning yet another club into a premiership force, you'll be too busy manufacturing the ifs and buts to suit your agenda.

And this is from the first couple of pages that come up when you search the forum for 'Gidley'
...
*random posts that have no relevance*
...
He's a real player, isn't he?

find in my post IN THIS TOPIC where I said ANYTHING about how good or bad a player gidley is. Can you do that? If not, how about a nice apology?

Also, I'm with you - if Bennett gets a premiership with Newcastle in the next 4 years I'll gladly say I was wrong. But if he doesn't, it just reassures what I've thought for the last ~10 years.

 

[Jeba]

I reckon a few will appreciate this. The statements that are in the same colour are the ones that completely contradict eachother. Here are some of the things that AP has rattled off today.

Kurt Gidley: NSW rep and captain, Australian Rep, Bennett chose him personally for the all-stars team.
Adam MacDougall: NSW rep, Australian Rep. Hasnt been there for a while, but at his peak was one of the premier backs in the game.
Jarrod Mullen: NSW rep, NSW Country Rep, Australian Schoolboys, fighting for a NSW jersey again this year.
James McManus: NSW rep, NSW Country Rep.
Cory Paterson: Indigenous All-stars. probable rep player in the making.
Zeb Taia: NZ rep.
Matt Hilder: Knights player of the year 2010.
Chris Houston: 18th man for State of Origin 2009 (so hes already has his hat in the ring for rep duties)
Wes Naiqama: Fiji rep.
Junior Sa'u: NZ rep.
Akuila Uate: NRL All-Stars, Dally M Winger of the year 2010, will most likely play origin this year if not next (without bennetts help).
Evarn Tuimavave: NZ rep.
Antonio Kaufusi: Australian rep, QLD origin rep.
Neville Costigan: QLD Origin rep (and dont say thats thanks to bennett, it was when he WASNT being coached by Bennett that he improved his game)
Beau Henry: 2009 U20s player of the year

[icon_lol1.

i was merely pointing out that they have a fair few decent players there, so next year when theyve got 5-6 rep players people cant just say it was all because of bennett.

and im not saying theyve got a great team or anything - even with Bennett there i dont think theyre a hope in hell over the next few years unless they drop some of their older players and buy some good players. snowden was a step in the right direction, but now it looks like that wont be happening because of Bennett going there. but having bennett will help them with recruitment.

and look, you might want to pass off playing 1 test for NZ as nothing and not worth mentioning, but hey - its one more than youll ever play.

players like zeb taia/patterson/houston/etc are going to be good with or without bennett. if they win a premiership WITH THIS ROSTER under bennett then kudos to WB. they wont though. with St Georges roster BEFORE bennett got there it was a matter of WHEN they'll pull their $hit together and win a premiership, not IF. Newcastle? good luck there WB. at least youll have your $8mil to comfort you after this failure.

Now let's take a little journey back to October 4, 2010.

Minichiello last played rep in 2007 (not counting city/country, cause noone does).
SKD has played a SINGLE match for NZ in 2007

Perrett and JWH also only played a handful of matches for NZ. compared to Aus and Origin rep teams, basically anyone gets picked for NZ. if you score a try in your only match before a test match, they generally choose you lol.

saying that someone who played a handful of matches for NZ puts them on the same level as someone whos played for QLD/NSW and Australia isnt right.

as much as NZ like to think theyre on the same playing level as the Aus team, theyre just not. they get lucky every now and then, thats about it. NZ have picked people whove only played a small handfull of first grade matches. why? because theyve got noone else. score one good try and youre in the NZ team.

So what's happened in 6 months AP? Howcome City/Country and NZ representation was no achievement back then, but it is now???

[icon_wink

 

[Jeba]

at least youll have your $8mil to comfort you after this failure.

It's already been mentioned about how the $2mil a season actually works, but I will ask you this question. If you have 2 children that required 24/7 caring, and you wanted to provide them with the best life they can possibly have, would you turn down the best opportunity to do that for them?