The Wayne Bennett Super thread!

[Porthoz]

Re: Grand Final Memories

So, the way the Knights played a totally different game than the typical Bennett ball against the Storm, spreading it wide and keeping it away from the ruck, clearly negating Melbourne's systematic wrestle and slow play the balls, wasn't a coaching clinic; but Bellamy doing the obvious last year, was... right on AP.

If anything, you've become very predictable when the topic is Wayne Bennett, Bellyache, the Storm or their players... :001_rolleyes:

 

[CaptainHook]

Re: Grand Final Memories

that was the storm without Cameron smith, the most valuable player in the entire league for the last 5+ years. It wasn't any fantastic coaching, it was a great team in great form just steamrolling a team missing their best player

I sort of disagree there. Missing Cameron Smith was a huge loss but they got hammered by 40. I think it was only 8-0 at half time. I agree it was Manly in great form but the Storm were on the wane.


Consider their performances that series. A loss to the Warriors, a get out of jail win against the Broncos and a win over the Sharks who were always going to be found out. The Storm were there to be beaten that year, Smith or no Smith.

 

[Broncoman]

There wasn't any Ryan Hoffman that day as well so the Storm weren't at full strength and were on their last legs.

 

[KingWebcke]

got to remember, it wasn't just losing Cam Smith in 2008. it was losing Cam Smith and replacing him with Russell Aitken. that guy could barely fucking pass the ball!

I'm sure even the 1960s Dragons would be have been beaten on the day if they had a hooker throwing passes at their halfback's knees all game.

 

[Anonymous person]

Re: Grand Final Memories

The Storm were there to be beaten that year, Smith or no Smith.

that just furthers my point of it not being a coaching masterstroke that made manly beat them.

melbourne were against it from the start, missing the most valuable player in the world of rugby league, and one of their best players in hoffman. it was just a matter of time before the floodgates opened, and they did.

 

[CaptainHook]

They still had Slater, Cronk, Inglis, Folau etc. Despite missing Smith and Hoffman, they still had the team and the coach to come up with more points than 0.

 

[Dexter]

It was only a bad call by the coach early in the year to take an early plea that ended up biting them in the GF IIRC. They rolled the dice with Smith then paid the penalty when it hurt most, plus he got done for one of those wrestling holds which of course the coach of the universe perfected so they got bitten twice by his own doing.

 

[Kimlo]

that just furthers my point of it not being a coaching masterstroke that made manly beat them.

melbourne were against it from the start, missing the most valuable player in the world of rugby league, and one of their best players in hoffman. it was just a matter of time before the floodgates opened, and they did.

Bennett was missing his best player in Gidley and one of his best in Snowden when they lost to the Roosters.

 

[Porthoz]

Bennett was missing his best player in Gidley and one of his best in Snowden when they lost to the Roosters.

:blink:

 

[broncos4life]

Bennett was missing his best player in Gidley and one of his best in Snowden when they lost to the Roosters.

Dude, is gidley there now watching you type that? Let me know by typing the words 'bench captain' and I'll send help immediately

 

[CaptainHook]

Tbf, he is the heart and soul of Newcastle. Origin notwithstanding, he's very tough and a great competitor. A few Broncos could learn some lessons from a player like him.

 

[Anonymous person]

Tbf, he is the heart and soul of Newcastle. Origin notwithstanding, he's very tough and a great competitor. A few Broncos could learn some lessons from a player like him.

i think hes the only player to play less matches over a 10 year career than hodges.

 

[CaptainHook]

He's probably up there ap with the injuries he's had. Brett Mullins comes to mind as well. Seems like he could never stay on the park.

 

[Anonymous person]

lolz i just had a look and kurt gidley has literally played 1 more game than hodges!

237 including rep for hodges, 238 including rep for gidley lol.

edit: although that looks like its only from 2011 for kidley, so add maybe another 5 on to his total lol

 

[Anonymous person]

double post brah

 

[Jeba]

Geez, 238 games at the top level, what a dud.

 

[KingWebcke]

Gidley carried Newcastle through a pretty awful period after they lost Johns and a whole host of their other stars. he's made of glass though

 

[Kimlo]

Gidley is to Newcastle what Smith is to Melbourne or what Hodges is to us, albeit not as talented.