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- Jan 25, 2014
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BRONCOS players have expressed their shock at Kevin Walters’ Red Hill snub as Wayne Bennett recalled Brisbane’s “Neville Nobody” to help their finals charge.
Just days after Bennett scuppered Walters’ return, little-known Joe Wehbe was back barking orders in the lead-up to Brisbane’s clash against the Eels on Friday night.
Wehbe raised eyebrows a fortnight ago when he made an unexpected appearance at Red Hill and Broncos officials went to ground over his identity.
On Tuesday Bennett again claimed to have no idea who Wehbe was but that did not stop the quasi-NRL assistant returning to mentor Brisbane’s star-studded $7 million roster.
Wehbe is, in fact, the New Zealand Rugby League’s “peak performance coach” who has strong ties with Broncos assistant and Kiwi Test coach Steve Kearney.
In a bizarre scenario, Wehbe, wearing full Broncos kit, presided over a skills session and touch-football game where he repeatedly bellowed: “Trust the ball”.
He later held a post-training meeting with Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford, the halves who thrived under Walters’ tutelage in Brisbane’s charge to the grand final last season.
A 242-game Broncos legend, Walters won five titles at Red Hill and was due to mentor Hunt and Milford this week.
But after Bennett went cold on the idea, the Broncos have again turned to the unheralded Wehbe, a man who has not played a single minute of NRL football.
Hunt said he was looking forward to reuniting with Walters, who steered Queensland to Origin supremacy in his first season in charge this year.
“I was a little bit disappointed he wasn’t coming back,” Hunt said.
“I like Kevvie and like having him around. He’s a good character off the field as well, but at the same time, I understand we have a great coaching staff here and we’re happy to go along with them.
“He helped us out a lot in attack me and ‘Milf’ personally. But it’s not for us to hope for someone to come in like that, me and Milf have to take it upon ourselves.
“We are trying to keep going with the little things he’s taught us.”
Of Wehbe, Hunt said: “Joe is just a skills coach, he comes out and helps us out during the training. He does a few little drills to help me and Milf get on our hands on the ball.”
Broncos forwards Adam Blair and Alex Glenn have met Wehbe in New Zealand’s set-up and praised his enthusiasm.
“I love ‘JJ’, he’s just a ball of energy,” Blair said.
“I have no idea what he is but I just like the guy because he brings energy around you, he is always happy.”
Glenn added: “He’s a great man and he just brings out the best in you. He instils a lot of confidence in you.”
Broncos pivot Milford said he was unaware of the Walters saga and appreciated Wehbe’s input.
“I only heard it (Walters’ axing) just before. I’m a bit behind,” he said. “But I’m sure Wayne has a lot of faith in the coaches we have at the moment. I’m sure we’ve got all the help we can get.”
No Cookies | The Courier Mail
Just days after Bennett scuppered Walters’ return, little-known Joe Wehbe was back barking orders in the lead-up to Brisbane’s clash against the Eels on Friday night.
Wehbe raised eyebrows a fortnight ago when he made an unexpected appearance at Red Hill and Broncos officials went to ground over his identity.
On Tuesday Bennett again claimed to have no idea who Wehbe was but that did not stop the quasi-NRL assistant returning to mentor Brisbane’s star-studded $7 million roster.
Wehbe is, in fact, the New Zealand Rugby League’s “peak performance coach” who has strong ties with Broncos assistant and Kiwi Test coach Steve Kearney.
In a bizarre scenario, Wehbe, wearing full Broncos kit, presided over a skills session and touch-football game where he repeatedly bellowed: “Trust the ball”.
He later held a post-training meeting with Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford, the halves who thrived under Walters’ tutelage in Brisbane’s charge to the grand final last season.
A 242-game Broncos legend, Walters won five titles at Red Hill and was due to mentor Hunt and Milford this week.
But after Bennett went cold on the idea, the Broncos have again turned to the unheralded Wehbe, a man who has not played a single minute of NRL football.
Hunt said he was looking forward to reuniting with Walters, who steered Queensland to Origin supremacy in his first season in charge this year.
“I was a little bit disappointed he wasn’t coming back,” Hunt said.
“I like Kevvie and like having him around. He’s a good character off the field as well, but at the same time, I understand we have a great coaching staff here and we’re happy to go along with them.
“He helped us out a lot in attack me and ‘Milf’ personally. But it’s not for us to hope for someone to come in like that, me and Milf have to take it upon ourselves.
“We are trying to keep going with the little things he’s taught us.”
Of Wehbe, Hunt said: “Joe is just a skills coach, he comes out and helps us out during the training. He does a few little drills to help me and Milf get on our hands on the ball.”
Broncos forwards Adam Blair and Alex Glenn have met Wehbe in New Zealand’s set-up and praised his enthusiasm.
“I love ‘JJ’, he’s just a ball of energy,” Blair said.
“I have no idea what he is but I just like the guy because he brings energy around you, he is always happy.”
Glenn added: “He’s a great man and he just brings out the best in you. He instils a lot of confidence in you.”
Broncos pivot Milford said he was unaware of the Walters saga and appreciated Wehbe’s input.
“I only heard it (Walters’ axing) just before. I’m a bit behind,” he said. “But I’m sure Wayne has a lot of faith in the coaches we have at the moment. I’m sure we’ve got all the help we can get.”
No Cookies | The Courier Mail
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