The Wayne Bennett Super thread!

[Alec]

Re: Wayne Bennet's 2015 Team Line Up

Outside of the halves, the Broncs surely have a better squad than the Knights.

In fact the halves are our only real problem... besides poor coaching. Some other areas aren't premiership worthy, but definitely top 8 worthy.

 

[Unbreakable]

Re: Wayne Bennet's 2015 Team Line Up

@Big Pete

I agree with a lot of what you're saying, but has anyone actually called Wayne Bennett's time at the Knights a success? I think it's pretty widely thought that it was somewhat of a disaster stint is coach. I also think that people are being a bit harsh towards Wayne, hence why I was trying to stick up for him a bit. That's not to say that he doesn't deserve his fair share of criticism for the last 3 years, he's made his mistakes with the Knights.

I'll openly admit that I'm a bit biased towards Wayne, he's always been one of my favourite coaches in any sport for what he did with us. People are allowed to have their own opinions obviously, I just hope everyone gives him a clean slate the second this season finishes, because after all, he's going to be the one running the show here for the next few years or more.

 

[Ari Gold]

Re: Wayne Bennet's 2015 Team Line Up

I think given the alternative was Griffin we have no choice but to wipe the slate clean.

I'm happy to view his new stint with us with a clean slate but it works both ways. You can't just ignore his knights record but always his record with us the first time around. The minute he starts coaching us again both of those things become irrelevant.

I really hope he doesn't bring Boyd to play five eight though.

 

[Big Pete]

Re: Wayne Bennet's 2015 Team Line Up

but has anyone actually called Wayne Bennett's time at the Knights a success?

Oh I've seen fans try and claim 2013 as a huge success in light of 2012 and 2014 which is absolutely baffling to me.

The problem I have is that fans try and absolve him of responsibility for the performance at the Knights and come up excuses such as blaming the roster after the fact. Stuff like that bugs me because it comes off so one-eyed I feel like I'm conversing with a brick wall, you know?

I think everyone on this board (well, nearly everyone, Faithinhook is still in mourning) wanted Hook gone and if it meant bringing in Bennett then so be it. What other option was there? It wasn't like Bellamy, Hasler or Maguire were itching to come up here and I doubt the board of directors would have pushed Hook out in favour of Walters, Matterson or the freakin' Super Walker Bros.

So at the end of the day, so be it. I just don't like being preached to or logging in here only to be presented with all these posts that read like campaign ads.

I don't think Bennett will magically unearth a crop of new talent, drop out of form players, solve the Global Financial Crisis nor improve the defence dramatically.

What I expect him to do is to make minor tweaks to the side and have them play with a bit more purpose.

Which at the end of the day is something I'm perfectly fine with.

 

[Cult]

Re: Wayne Bennet's 2015 Team Line Up

Well, which is it? It's harder to recruit for the Knights than the Broncos, or you have no fucking idea? Can't have the cake and eat it too mate...

Do you know how many players Newcastle recruited under WB? Do you know how many players Griffin recruited in the same period?
Because I seem to remember Bennett going on a recruitment drive backed by Tinkler's money (promises), bleeding St. George of some of their most important players, like J. Smith, Scott and Boyd, besides fishing at the Sharks and Broncos to name a few.
He may not have gotten every player he wanted, but he sure as hell built their roster to his image!

As BP pointed out, Newcastle is performing far worse than the Broncos, so suddenly it's their roster that is crap, after it was considered easily a top 8 team at the start of the season.
But no responsibility goes to Wayne, god forbid... after all, his 7 premierships should shield him of criticism!

At least I can admit that I have no idea. You're saying that you know exactly what has gone down on his recruitment drive and that he got all the players he wanted. I bet there are Raiders fans out there that will say the same about Stuart in 2 years when in reality he got like his 5th choice player.

The Bennett haters on here are being ridiculous and it's impossible to argue with you all. Hence the sarcastic responses to the bullshit you guys spew. We have logically responded to every single point you have thrown out there and even asked our own questions. Most of which are yet to be responded to. To claim Bennett-ball has taken up most of Waynes career, then to say it occurred for like 8 years is just dumb. Dude has been coaching rugby league at a high level since 1976. Many of those years were some of the most entertaining rugby league anyone will ever witness.

And can we please stop saying they have the roster to do well this season. They're a team of has beens who wanted a big payday. Their roster is crap. I tipped them to finish 12th this season at the beginning of the year. The fact that you guys are claiming the last three years as a judgement on his career as a whole is just fucking stupid. Nobody here is claiming the things you guys are saying either. You guys are getting angry about some things that are yet to happen which again is just fucking stupid.

At the very least his return gives the Brisbane Broncos, the club you people claim to support, a second chance to fill the void he left when he left a few years ago and if you can't get over that, there are 15 other clubs who actually need your memberships. I'm done with this now. I'm over repeating myself. You guys win. Enjoy constantly hating the club you apparently love.

 

[Ari Gold]

Wayne Bennet's 2015 Team Line Up

At least I can admit that I have no idea. You're saying that you know exactly what has gone down on his recruitment drive and that he got all the players he wanted. I bet there are Raiders fans out there that will say the same about Stuart in 2 years when in reality he got like his 5th choice player.

The Bennett haters on here are being ridiculous and it's impossible to argue with you all. Hence the sarcastic responses to the bullshit you guys spew. We have logically responded to every single point you have thrown out there and even asked our own questions. Most of which are yet to be responded to. To claim Bennett-ball has taken up most of Waynes career, then to say it occurred for like 8 years is just dumb. Dude has been coaching rugby league at a high level since 1976. Many of those years were some of the most entertaining rugby league anyone will ever witness.

And can we please stop saying they have the roster to do well this season. They're a team of has beens who wanted a big payday. Their roster is crap. I tipped them to finish 12th this season at the beginning of the year. The fact that you guys are claiming the last three years as a judgement on his career as a whole is just fucking stupid. Nobody here is claiming the things you guys are saying either. You guys are getting angry about some things that are yet to happen which again is just fucking stupid.

At the very least his return gives the Brisbane Broncos, the club you people claim to support, a second chance to fill the void he left when he left a few years ago and if you can't get over that, there are 15 other clubs who actually need your memberships. I'm done with this now. I'm over repeating myself. You guys win. Enjoy constantly hating the club you apparently love.

I agree with a lot but not the Knights comment. How many of those washed up has beens has WB been responsible for signing? This is WB's third year at the Knights so it should be his best roster yet. But it's not. A lot of the blame has to be assigned to him for that. Consistently plays guys like Faalogo over Tapine or Korbin or whatever other young forwards they might have.

It's good Griffin is gone and I hope WB delivers us success. I'm particularly glad Milford won't be bulked up and ruined by Hook. But don't act like the knights failure isn't WBs fault. This year more than ever it is.

 

[Big Pete]

Re: Wayne Bennet's 2015 Team Line Up

And can we please stop saying they have the roster to do well this season. They're a team of has beens who wanted a big payday. Their roster is crap. I tipped them to finish 12th this season at the beginning of the year. The fact that you guys are claiming the last three years as a judgement on his career as a whole is just fucking stupid. Nobody here is claiming the things you guys are saying either. You guys are getting angry about some things that are yet to happen which again is just fucking stupid.

Actually you tipped them to finish 9th, just about the only person who tipped them to miss the finals and that includes a lot of different boards and publications.

While I doubt it was directed at me, I'll make it clear that I don't think the past three years defines him but to try and come up with every excuse for it is weak.

It was a black mark on a wonderful career, that's all.

 

[Porthoz]

Re: Wayne Bennet's 2015 Team Line Up

At least I can admit that I have no idea. You're saying that you know exactly what has gone down on his recruitment drive and that he got all the players he wanted. I bet there are Raiders fans out there that will say the same about Stuart in 2 years when in reality he got like his 5th choice player.

The Bennett haters on here are being ridiculous and it's impossible to argue with you all. Hence the sarcastic responses to the bullshit you guys spew. We have logically responded to every single point you have thrown out there and even asked our own questions. Most of which are yet to be responded to. To claim Bennett-ball has taken up most of Waynes career, then to say it occurred for like 8 years is just dumb. Dude has been coaching rugby league at a high level since 1976. Many of those years were some of the most entertaining rugby league anyone will ever witness.

And can we please stop saying they have the roster to do well this season. They're a team of has beens who wanted a big payday. Their roster is crap. I tipped them to finish 12th this season at the beginning of the year. The fact that you guys are claiming the last three years as a judgement on his career as a whole is just fucking stupid. Nobody here is claiming the things you guys are saying either. You guys are getting angry about some things that are yet to happen which again is just fucking stupid.

At the very least his return gives the Brisbane Broncos, the club you people claim to support, a second chance to fill the void he left when he left a few years ago and if you can't get over that, there are 15 other clubs who actually need your memberships. I'm done with this now. I'm over repeating myself. You guys win. Enjoy constantly hating the club you apparently love.

Who the **** are you to tell me which club to support or how to support them?

You sound just like one of those religious fundamentalists that thinks that their way is the only way to "serve the Lord". Ever heard of the concept of debate? What about free will and freedom of speech?

Where did I say I know exactly what went down at the Knights in terms of recruitment or anything else?
What I said is fact and public knowledge regarding the players he got and chased, but in case you missed it, this is what I also said:

He may not have gotten every player he wanted, but he sure as hell built their roster to his image!

This paragraph really takes the cake when it comes to the pot blaming the kettle:

The Bennett haters on here are being ridiculous and it's impossible to argue with you all. Hence the sarcastic responses to the bullshit you guys spew. We have logically responded to every single point you have thrown out there and even asked our own questions. Most of which are yet to be responded to. To claim Bennett-ball has taken up most of Waynes career, then to say it occurred for like 8 years is just dumb. Dude has been coaching rugby league at a high level since 1976. Many of those years were some of the most entertaining rugby league anyone will ever witness.

What happened in the earlier years of his career is only of partial relevance to today. The competition was totally different, the rules were different, the whole game was different!

You're also confusing gratitude with pragmatism. I am not trying to diminish his past achievements, but I am more interested in what he has shown in this millennium than 1976.

Funny how I've put a list of questions (to B4L), and that was conveniently ignored by all the righteous WB prophets.

Don't confuse my doubts and scepticism with lack of support for my club.
Like I have done with anyone wearing Broncos colours, I will support and cheer them all the way through no matter what. I will always hope for the best, and that is exactly what I will do with Bennett too.
You will never see me death riding my team, unlike some of the prophets here do, to satisfy their need to validate their feelings about Griffin or whichever other agenda they may have.

Nothing will please me more than see WB take us to new heights. In fact, that's exactly what I expect, because he is inheriting a team with a promising future ahead, something he can't say he did when he left...

But there is one thing I won't do: ignore facts and base my opinions on blind faith!

 

[broncos4life]

Re: Wayne Bennet's 2015 Team Line Up

Come on then, actually answer the hard questions and stop being so selective about what you want to answer, and certainly what you want to avoid answering. These are the questions I, and others who are sceptical about WB's return, have been asking, and whom you constantly sarcastically rip into:

- Who said Bennett was not an imporvement on griffin
- How many times did the Broncos have a big post Origin slump post 2000 under Bennett?
- Who, besides AP, has even implied Bennett is a shit coach, or as you call it, terrible?
- Besides being generally more effective, is Bennett ball any different from Griffin ball?
- Are Reed or Lowrie for example, typical Bennett players?
- Should we get rid of Barba in favour of Boyd, as many people seem to think will happen (and yes, I know this is purely rumour without any other base than the fact Boyd has followed WB everywhere).


Yup, no worries. I remember him failing to recruit whomever he wanted the Knights when he moved there, you're right.

Oh wait.....

I, or others have answered them previously, yet you constantly ignore them. What was that saying you love so much about a pot and a kettle. I'll answer them for the last time because this is getting ridiculous.


- Who said Bennett was not an improvement on griffin? I personally think it has been said or at the very least Inferred. Pretty sure AP has said it. I don't really think I have claimed people have said that, I have responded several times to people claiming that Bennett can't coach, which I have every right to do.

How many times did the Broncos have a big post Origin slump post 2000 under Bennett? pretty much every year I believe. Once again I never claimed the didn't (this is another example of how you take what I post in reply to AP out of context). Of course we had post origin form slumps, we did with griffin and Henjak too. My two points in regard to this was that:
A) denying that it had anything to do with the heavy representation we have in origin is lunacy
B) WB obviously found a way to get us out of it at least once seeing we won the premiership in 2006 (although we fluked that as you claim)

- Who, besides AP, has even implied Bennett is a shit coach, or as you call it, terrible? once again I'm pretty sure that has been said multiple times. The line that Newcastle have been shit this year so he is shit has been peddled out meaning times. I don't want to single posters out but you would be aware of this, unless all you have been doing in the WB threads is trawling for my posts

- Besides being generally more effective, is Bennett ball any different from Griffin ball? this one I know I have answered several times, but hear we go again. Griffinball is a very very shot version of the style Bennett uses. That fact that it has been so unsuccessful makes it misleading to claim that they are the same. Bennett traditionally plays high percentage football and one out down the middle, but he uses his players effectively and makes sure he has the props etc to do that effectively.

If I go into my kitchen and slap a couple of meat patties on a bun you can't say that I make burgers like maccas.

If you want to call it the same then that's fine, I'll concede, but I don't give a **** because it's successful and I want the broncos to win, and to an extent (bar cheating) I don't care how it happens. No one comes up to you after the game and says "well you won, but it was pretty boring so we are giving it to the other team"

Are Reed or Lowrie for example, typical Bennett players? not exclusively. He employed those types of players at a time when that's what the team needed. They had the brilliance of locky, strike backline and big engine room but needed dependable work horses. What's wrong with that. Look at Newcastle, has he recruited any reed types for his centre pairing? No. It's not one size fits all.

- Should we get rid of Barba in favour of Boyd, as many people seem to think will happen (and yes, I know this is purely rumour without any other base than the fact Boyd has followed WB everywhere). no of course we shouldn't, but that is just wild speculation. Surely I'm not expected to respond to every piece of shit Matthew johns or the media spew out. At this point there is no guarantee Boyd will even play footy again, or at least in the best future. We have no idea the status of his depression. That's crazy speculation but if you want an answer, no I don't think barba should go for Boyd provided that his form keeps improving

 

[Bucking Beads]

Re: Wayne Bennet's 2015 Team Line Up

Dobbo from triple M was on this morning. He reckons Boyd is coming back but we will need to lose Hoffman. We've tried to offload Barba but nobody wants him.

**** Wayne if he brings Boyd back. I'm out if he does. Stupid old ****.

 

[rhino]

Re: Wayne Bennet's 2015 Team Line Up

So Bennet is bringing with him Jeremy Hickman. He and Alex Corvo will work together. Any news on assistants yet people ?

 

[broncos4life]

Re: Wayne Bennet's 2015 Team Line Up

Dobbo from triple M was on this morning. He reckons Boyd is coming back but we will need to lose Hoffman. We've tried to offload Barba but nobody wants him.

**** Wayne if he brings Boyd back. I'm out if he does. Stupid old ****.

I take your point but I'm going to wait and see what happens. Donbas strike rate is pretty shit

 

[Unbreakable]

Re: Wayne Bennet's 2015 Team Line Up

Dobbo from triple M was on this morning. He reckons Boyd is coming back but we will need to lose Hoffman. We've tried to offload Barba but nobody wants him.

**** Wayne if he brings Boyd back. I'm out if he does. Stupid old ****.

I think the more reasonable scenario is:

> Hoffman wants an upgrade & to play Fullback
> Bennett isn't willing to give either to him
> We release Hoffman for 2015
> We sign Boyd on Hoffman's money
> Boyd plays Wing or Centre

Obviously there's some variables there, Boyd will probably be on slightly more money than Hoffman, and Bennett would have to convince him to neck up and play on the Wing (I'm pretty sure he would, if he was given an ultimatum, play on the Wing or don't play for the Broncos)

 

[Foordy]

Re: Wayne Bennet's 2015 Team Line Up

I can handle Boyd coming back if he is happy to play wing. if he wants any other position, he can **** right off

 

[Cult]

Re: Wayne Bennet's 2015 Team Line Up

Actually you tipped them to finish 9th, just about the only person who tipped them to miss the finals and that includes a lot of different boards and publications.

While I doubt it was directed at me, I'll make it clear that I don't think the past three years defines him but to try and come up with every excuse for it is weak.

It was a black mark on a wonderful career, that's all.

Yeah but when I did the ladder prediction properly I had them finish 12th. Saved it on my phone. It wasn't aimed at you and yes I agree that it doesn't look good. But it isn't entirely his fault. The same way it hasn't been entirely Griffins fault that we have sucked too.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Re: Wayne Bennet's 2015 Team Line Up

Boyd is on $700 odd which is just ridiculous to begin with.

 

[Danoz Direct]

Re: Wayne Bennet's 2015 Team Line Up

What I expect according to the media:

1. Milford
2. Hoffman
3. Copley
4. Hodges
5. Vidot
6. Boyd
7. Hunt
8. McGuire
9. McCullough
10. Hannant
11. Glenn
12. Thaiday
13. Parker

14. Barba
15. Gillett
16. Garbutt
17. Oates

What I would like to see:

1. Barba/Milford
2. Hoffman
3. Copley
4. Hodges
5. Boyd
6. Barba/Milford
7. Hunt
8. McGuire
9. McCullough
10. Hannant
11. Gillett
12. Thaiday
13. Parker

14. Glenn
15. Kennedy
16. Garbutt
17. Oates

 

[Unbreakable]

Re: Wayne Bennet's 2015 Team Line Up

What I would like to see:

1. Barba/Milford
2. Hoffman
3. Copley
4. Hodges
5. Boyd
6. Barba/Milford
7. Hunt
8. McGuire
9. McCullough
10. Hannant
11. Gillett
12. Thaiday
13. Parker

14. Glenn
15. Kennedy
16. Garbutt
17. Oates

This is pretty similar to what I'm hoping for, except we'll probably have to release Hoffman to be able to afford Boyd & Garbutt, so replace him with Vidot or Kahu. I'd also have Glenn starting and Thaiday on the bench, but that's just my personal preference.