Bennett's aura

[Coxy]

Great great article about Wayne Bennett at the Dragons. Sounds like he's really making an impression there, and he seems to be loving it.

Let's hope it doesn't result in much though! [icon_razz1 icon_thumbs_u

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,865 ... 14,00.html

THE hard edge lies in the attention to detail, in a crumpled piece of A4 paper covered in notes, tucked and folded into the front of master coach Wayne Bennett's shorts.

Discipline. Team first. Be true to yourself. These are the key philosophies Bennett has interlaced between life and football for 30 years.

At 7.11am last Friday, the NRL's most experienced coach had the Dragons doing push-ups on the training grounds of Wollongong University.

A player had unwittingly dropped a ball during the opening defensive drill and the 58-year-old was swift to stamp some authority.

 

[fenomeno]

70 Kilo Bench for an old man, nice shit.

 

[Coxy]

It's one thing I know players admired about Bennett at the Broncos. He didn't make them do anything in preseason training that he wouldn't do himself. So he did the boot camps, the Gap runs etc right along with them.

 

[schmix]

Far from the stubborn, grumpy bloke he is often portrayed as, Bennett showed he was a deep thinker with a dry, sharp, country wit.

Translation: Now that he coaches a Sydney club, we don't have to make him out to be a douche anymore.

Seriously, the coverage of him down here has been plentiful and all positive. As much as I love Bennett, it kind of pisses me off how quickly they've changed their tune.

 

[Emma]

Couldn't agree more schmix. From what I've seen, he hasn't really come across as any different, yet the media are certainly singing a different song. It's been driving me nuts.

 

[Major JW Hochstetter]

And if or when the Dragons don't deliver the unrealistic expectations that people are now putting on them as a result of Wayne's presence, he'll likely cop it more than ever before. It's sad seeing the vast number of idiots doing u-turns in the past 12 months.

 

[Coxy]

Yeah, but I think you've nailed it JW. They're heaping him with praise, saying how great an influence on the players he is etc etc, so then they have an argument when the Dragons don't win the 2009 comp (and they won't) - Bennett's flop etc.

 

[Hamm.0]

2 really toughest gigs in the NRL for season 2009;

1) Be Wayne Bennett at any club other than Broncos and not have instant success.
2) Be Wayne Bennett's successor at the Broncos. Toughest gig in Australian sport for 2009?

 

[Coxy]

2 really toughest gigs in the NRL for season 2009;

1) Be Wayne Bennett at any club other than Broncos and not have instant success.
2) Be Wayne Bennett's successor at the Broncos. Toughest gig in Australian sport for 2009?

Without doubt on both counts.

St George-Illawarra as has been commented before is a coaching job with ridiculous expectations and pressure. The "old boys" of St George, along with Parramatta and Canterbury, are probably the loudest and most obnoxious. To succeed in that environment will take something special.

Similar with the Broncos. There'll be an expectation for the Broncos to be premiership contenders as per usual. For a rookie coach that is a tough gig.

Matt Hayden's replacement also a tough gig for 2009, particularly with an Ashes series.

Oh, but the toughest gig in the world this year is Obama as US president. I swear, the way some people in the general public talk about him you'd think he was literally the second coming of Christ to save us all. He can't possibly live up to the hype.

 

[Flutterby]

Far from the stubborn, grumpy bloke he is often portrayed as, Bennett showed he was a deep thinker with a dry, sharp, country wit.

Anyone (apart from crap journalists) who has ever spent any time in his company has always known this.

 

[Kaz]

schmix

They will turn on him again when the footy season starts & he doesn't answer there questions.

 

[Assassin]

I have to admit concidering some of the dodgy stuff I've seen the media report (make up) over the years I wouldn't talk to them either, at least you can't get taken out of context or miss quoted if you don't say anything at all.

Doesn't stop em mind you, all the quotes then start with the phrase "insiders at the club claim bennant etc etc etc" or "bennent has reportedly said..."

 

[Fozz]

70 Kilo Bench for an old man, nice shit.

[icon_ee

Now I feel even more piss weak!

 

[subsbligh]

I don't know whether it is a case of the Sydney media now being more tolerant of Wayne Bennett or Wayne Bennett being more willing to open up to the Sydney media given he is unproven and wanting to impress the new employer, so to speak.

 

[Kimlo]

I read that part thought it meant someone else.
Can he seriously lift 70kg on the bench> Fucking hell, most people I know couldn't do that and he's an old fragile looking man.
Maybe bennet is god.

 

[Professor47]

2 really toughest gigs in the NRL for season 2009;

1) Be Wayne Bennett at any club other than Broncos and not have instant success.
2) Be Wayne Bennett's successor at the Broncos. Toughest gig in Australian sport for 2009?

Without doubt on both counts.

St George-Illawarra as has been commented before is a coaching job with ridiculous expectations and pressure. The "old boys" of St George, along with Parramatta and Canterbury, are probably the loudest and most obnoxious. To succeed in that environment will take something special.

Similar with the Broncos. There'll be an expectation for the Broncos to be premiership contenders as per usual. For a rookie coach that is a tough gig.

Matt Hayden's replacement also a tough gig for 2009, particularly with an Ashes series.

Oh, but the toughest gig in the world this year is Obama as US president. I swear, the way some people in the general public talk about him you'd think he was literally the second coming of Christ to save us all. He can't possibly live up to the hype.

Well said Coxy about Barack.
I admit I'm not heavily knowledgeable in politics, but this Barack situation has the nation buzzing, you can feel it from here. It is going to be one hell of a tough gig.