Super Freak
International Captain
Forum Staff
- Jan 25, 2014
- 44,119
- 33,258
I thought I would post this. It was a great read. It was posted after the Tigers game.
The style of football played by the 2015 Brisbane Broncos bares a striking resemblance to every team ever coached by the great Wayne Bennett.
It's simple, but highly effective.
I mean, why would he change his style now after all these years? It's a winning formula that has stood the test of time.
Bennett has lived through the different eras, the rule changes, interpretations, interchanges, different players and different opponents. He has witnessed the evolution of sports sciences, coaching and training techniques. He has dealt with the different player personalities from generations X to Y to Z. Bennett calmly takes in the constantly changing world around him, smiles to himself, and carries on with what he knows best.
If the truth be known, he has been around so long he was probably coaching way back when people were talking about generations A, B and C. To Bennett, though, he sees all kids as being the same, from every generation. He treats them all the same way, too. He teaches them all the same life lessons. He coaches them to play football for each other as any team should. The strength of a team is in the collective effort; not the individual.
The old bloke has his own style, his own structures and his own philosophies. He knows they work. He knows that if executed correctly, they win football games. From time to time the players might not be good enough, but the system is pretty much foolproof. If the players aren't winning under this system, well, then he knows he needs to change the players; or maybe even his club.
Since returning home to the Broncos, Bennett has found the right group of players, with the right talent and the right attitudes, to win football games (over 80 per cent this season in fact). Can they win a Premiership? Well, let me say this much. When you play against the Broncos, you are going to have to beat them; because the Broncos won't be beating themselves.
This is a team, with every individual playing for the common cause. Bennett builds his football on defence and team spirit. Defence is the hardest part of the game. This is where you show your desire, commitment and pride. It's the hardest part to learn and the hardest part to execute. You have to work hard at it, to be good at it. It's the players and coaches working hard together that builds the self-confidence, the confidence and trust in each other, the communication, honestly and respect between the individuals that forms the tight-knit relationships.
There's your "spirit". Team spirit is the word people use to describe the bond between individuals that has them believing and playing for each other, against all challenges and all challengers.
Bennett has created a defensive mindset at the Broncos. They are hard to crack. They test your perseverance. They test you to the point where you start to lose confidence in your attacking systems. Before you know it you are panicking and trying to invent new ways to make line breaks and score tries. You will require a steely resolve to outpatience the Bronco boys.
Bennett's attack? Again, the brilliance is in the simplicity. Simple patterns and simple directions allow the players to know exactly where they are going and what they are doing in every part of the field. Every player has a role. The role suits every individual player. They know when to contribute. More importantly, they know why to contribute and how important the quality of their contribution is to the rest of the team.
Within the system though, there is ample opportunity for the individual to be creative. The dummy half Andrew McCulloch is always alert, waiting for his moment to dart away from tired or unsuspecting defenders.
The halfback Ben Hunt is a real footballer. He gives the team its directions and plays out the script handed him by the coach. He also possesses the rare talent of being able to "feel" a defensive line and reacts instinctively to any opportunities. He has all the skills. He brings other players to life.
Five-eighth Anthony Milford is improving all the time. He tends to lie dormant for long periods of the game; but he is always watching, waiting, ready to strike. Fullback Darius Boyd is aggressive and confident. He knows his stuff too. He keeps asking questions of the opposition defensive line.
Justin Hodges – old pro. Still steps around the young blokes and leaves them grasping at thin air. They know he is going to run, but knowing it and stopping it are two different things. Big Sam Thaiday. He doesn't run around you. He runs over the top of you. Again, you know it's coming, but ....
Corey Parker. He is a machine. He has an incredible appetite for work. It's productive work too. He doesn't play just to rack up personal statistics. He plays to win. Matt Gillett is a serious footballer. Origin player. There is no higher praise.
The other players in the team rarely receive the media write-ups or the commentator's praise. But that is the least of their worries. They play for the respect of their teammates and to please the coach. That's all that matters.
Every player sticks to the plan. They believe in it and they believe they will win with it. It's predictable, but it's relentless. They won't give up on their system. They will keep coming after you the same way, time after time after time; until you crack.
Just when you think they may have a new play or variation up their sleeve, nope, it's the same stuff again. It's not rocket science, but executed properly, it's very powerful.
The Wests Tigers travelled to Brisbane for Sunday afternoon football hoping to bring down the Broncos. To win, the Tigers knew their collective spirit and desire would have to match that of the Bronco players. It didn't. To win they would need to match the Bronco's resilient defence. It didn't come close. To win they would need to persevere and be patient in attack. They weren't.
The Bronco players simply worked away, doing what they do best; doing what they've been coached to do. The team performed. The individuals shined.
The old coach sat watching the world go by from high in the grandstand. Another day, another win, another justification for his methods and his structures.
Outwardly, he displays the stoic poker face and at times almost disinterested demeanour. Don't react to the good. Don't react to the bad. Whatever happens, react like you knew it was going to happen all along. It's all part of the package.
Rest assured he is smiling on the inside. Partly because his team wins and plays well. But mainly because his boys play as a team and carry themselves like men.
Bronco men.
Brisbane Broncos have the look of NRL premiers - and it's down to Wayne Bennett
The style of football played by the 2015 Brisbane Broncos bares a striking resemblance to every team ever coached by the great Wayne Bennett.
It's simple, but highly effective.
I mean, why would he change his style now after all these years? It's a winning formula that has stood the test of time.
Bennett has lived through the different eras, the rule changes, interpretations, interchanges, different players and different opponents. He has witnessed the evolution of sports sciences, coaching and training techniques. He has dealt with the different player personalities from generations X to Y to Z. Bennett calmly takes in the constantly changing world around him, smiles to himself, and carries on with what he knows best.
If the truth be known, he has been around so long he was probably coaching way back when people were talking about generations A, B and C. To Bennett, though, he sees all kids as being the same, from every generation. He treats them all the same way, too. He teaches them all the same life lessons. He coaches them to play football for each other as any team should. The strength of a team is in the collective effort; not the individual.
The old bloke has his own style, his own structures and his own philosophies. He knows they work. He knows that if executed correctly, they win football games. From time to time the players might not be good enough, but the system is pretty much foolproof. If the players aren't winning under this system, well, then he knows he needs to change the players; or maybe even his club.
Since returning home to the Broncos, Bennett has found the right group of players, with the right talent and the right attitudes, to win football games (over 80 per cent this season in fact). Can they win a Premiership? Well, let me say this much. When you play against the Broncos, you are going to have to beat them; because the Broncos won't be beating themselves.
This is a team, with every individual playing for the common cause. Bennett builds his football on defence and team spirit. Defence is the hardest part of the game. This is where you show your desire, commitment and pride. It's the hardest part to learn and the hardest part to execute. You have to work hard at it, to be good at it. It's the players and coaches working hard together that builds the self-confidence, the confidence and trust in each other, the communication, honestly and respect between the individuals that forms the tight-knit relationships.
There's your "spirit". Team spirit is the word people use to describe the bond between individuals that has them believing and playing for each other, against all challenges and all challengers.
Bennett has created a defensive mindset at the Broncos. They are hard to crack. They test your perseverance. They test you to the point where you start to lose confidence in your attacking systems. Before you know it you are panicking and trying to invent new ways to make line breaks and score tries. You will require a steely resolve to outpatience the Bronco boys.
Bennett's attack? Again, the brilliance is in the simplicity. Simple patterns and simple directions allow the players to know exactly where they are going and what they are doing in every part of the field. Every player has a role. The role suits every individual player. They know when to contribute. More importantly, they know why to contribute and how important the quality of their contribution is to the rest of the team.
Within the system though, there is ample opportunity for the individual to be creative. The dummy half Andrew McCulloch is always alert, waiting for his moment to dart away from tired or unsuspecting defenders.
The halfback Ben Hunt is a real footballer. He gives the team its directions and plays out the script handed him by the coach. He also possesses the rare talent of being able to "feel" a defensive line and reacts instinctively to any opportunities. He has all the skills. He brings other players to life.
Five-eighth Anthony Milford is improving all the time. He tends to lie dormant for long periods of the game; but he is always watching, waiting, ready to strike. Fullback Darius Boyd is aggressive and confident. He knows his stuff too. He keeps asking questions of the opposition defensive line.
Justin Hodges – old pro. Still steps around the young blokes and leaves them grasping at thin air. They know he is going to run, but knowing it and stopping it are two different things. Big Sam Thaiday. He doesn't run around you. He runs over the top of you. Again, you know it's coming, but ....
Corey Parker. He is a machine. He has an incredible appetite for work. It's productive work too. He doesn't play just to rack up personal statistics. He plays to win. Matt Gillett is a serious footballer. Origin player. There is no higher praise.
The other players in the team rarely receive the media write-ups or the commentator's praise. But that is the least of their worries. They play for the respect of their teammates and to please the coach. That's all that matters.
Every player sticks to the plan. They believe in it and they believe they will win with it. It's predictable, but it's relentless. They won't give up on their system. They will keep coming after you the same way, time after time after time; until you crack.
Just when you think they may have a new play or variation up their sleeve, nope, it's the same stuff again. It's not rocket science, but executed properly, it's very powerful.
The Wests Tigers travelled to Brisbane for Sunday afternoon football hoping to bring down the Broncos. To win, the Tigers knew their collective spirit and desire would have to match that of the Bronco players. It didn't. To win they would need to match the Bronco's resilient defence. It didn't come close. To win they would need to persevere and be patient in attack. They weren't.
The Bronco players simply worked away, doing what they do best; doing what they've been coached to do. The team performed. The individuals shined.
The old coach sat watching the world go by from high in the grandstand. Another day, another win, another justification for his methods and his structures.
Outwardly, he displays the stoic poker face and at times almost disinterested demeanour. Don't react to the good. Don't react to the bad. Whatever happens, react like you knew it was going to happen all along. It's all part of the package.
Rest assured he is smiling on the inside. Partly because his team wins and plays well. But mainly because his boys play as a team and carry themselves like men.
Bronco men.
Brisbane Broncos have the look of NRL premiers - and it's down to Wayne Bennett
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