Wayne Bennett quits Knights... Is he coming back?

[GCBRONCO]

All good mate

 

[broncos4life]

don't count on it

He took players to newcastle because their team was shit, the needed players and they were the best available on the market.

 

[Coxy]

I have misgivings.
Firstly, I'm fine with Hook and Kearney getting the arse. We've seen no improvement from the Broncos since 2011, so change is required.

However, I'm concerned with the way Bennett seems to have done it in the background with the board and News Limited, completely blindsiding both Griffin and White. If we're going to replace the coach, the CEO should be involved in that decision. I know he has a close friendship with Griffin, but that's irrelevant. It's part of his role.

The further allegation that Bennett is picking son in law Ben Ikin to replace White as CEO just fills me with dread. No disrespect or judgement of Ikin's management capabilities, but to effectively hand Bennett control of the entire club just seems ludicrous.

And then there's Bennett's age and whether he's set in his ways and whether there's any real tactical benefit in having him for 2-3 years.

Whole thing makes me feel uneasy.

 

[Cult]

We have a second chance to fix things after the Bennett era. Maybe the person serving his apprenticeship under him won't leave early to coach the Storm? We have a chance to fix things. Why do we need to move on from our glory days? Why can't we just bring them back?

 

[noisetheory]

I have misgivings.
Firstly, I'm fine with Hook and Kearney getting the arse. We've seen no improvement from the Broncos since 2011, so change is required.

However, I'm concerned with the way Bennett seems to have done it in the background with the board and News Limited, completely blindsiding both Griffin and White. If we're going to replace the coach, the CEO should be involved in that decision. I know he has a close friendship with Griffin, but that's irrelevant. It's part of his role.

The further allegation that Bennett is picking son in law Ben Ikin to replace White as CEO just fills me with dread. No disrespect or judgement of Ikin's management capabilities, but to effectively hand Bennett control of the entire club just seems ludicrous.

And then there's Bennett's age and whether he's set in his ways and whether there's any real tactical benefit in having him for 2-3 years.

Whole thing makes me feel uneasy.

tend to agree with this. we needed change from griffin and kearney but im not sure this is the right way.

at the end of the day its results that matter. if bennett can get the results on the field then, good.

 

[nopatience101]

I have misgivings.
Firstly, I'm fine with Hook and Kearney getting the arse. We've seen no improvement from the Broncos since 2011, so change is required.

However, I'm concerned with the way Bennett seems to have done it in the background with the board and News Limited, completely blindsiding both Griffin and White. If we're going to replace the coach, the CEO should be involved in that decision. I know he has a close friendship with Griffin, but that's irrelevant. It's part of his role.

The further allegation that Bennett is picking son in law Ben Ikin to replace White as CEO just fills me with dread. No disrespect or judgement of Ikin's management capabilities, but to effectively hand Bennett control of the entire club just seems ludicrous.

And then there's Bennett's age and whether he's set in his ways and whether there's any real tactical benefit in having him for 2-3 years.

Whole thing makes me feel uneasy.

Both White and Hook would have known exactly what was going on, it was always about what the club was not saying more than what it was.

I would be very surprised if White didn't remain ceo.

 

[Huge]

Arrr...rumours of your demise Coxy were obviously misdirection ! Nice to see an issue big enough for you to once again have an imput ! That was meant nicely btw. Years ago we disagreed strongly on the decision to dump WB and I pointed out at the time the stupidity of dumping the then ' best coach in the world ' for a rookie........all apparently in search of better results ! I even wrote, please let history prove me wrong. Sadly we deteriorated to the also rans we are now. I feel a little for Griffin but really the guy wrote his own script.

He thought his stubbornness was a strength but inflexibility has been his downfall. Witness Hoffman in the 5/8 role. We all saw it was a dismal failure, months ago. It is an indication that Griffin has 9/10 tenths of the requirements for a good NRL coach.

As for WB and the Broncos future, having him back is the surest way for the Broncos to go forward and provides the club with a way to get over him. It works a bit like the earlier analogy about ex girlfriends. In my experience when you take them back you quickly realize why you parted in the first place, you again breakup but this time you never go back, you're OVER IT .

However, should that not happen it becomes a win/win proposition. The club goes forward and we become the great club we were once again. When it comes time for WB to retire he will endeavour to ensure the long time success for his beloved Broncos. I see his return as a win/ win.

 

[Unbreakable]

This is good news guys, try not to dwell on the potential negative things about it.

 

[Coxy]

This is good news guys, try not to dwell on the potential negative things about it.

I feel sorry for Griffin. While I don't think he's the right man to coach, it seems this is a really nasty way to get rid of him. And it risks undermining the playing group too. They still respect him.

As for Kearney - just get out.

 

[Alec]

We'll keep him until a good coach becomes available (+ Smith retires and hopefully wants to be an assistant)

 

[Rabbir]

For the people who have been calling for Griffin to get sacked for 18 months. Who did you think would be taking over from him?

 

[broncos4life]

I feel sorry for Griffin. While I don't think he's the right man to coach, it seems this is a really nasty way to get rid of him. And it risks undermining the playing group too. They still respect him.

As for Kearney - just get out.

Thing is I'm not sold that this is the way it has one down, but I sure as hell think it sells papers.

That article from Roy Masters is just a whole lot of assumptions, and lost all credibility at Ikin for CEO.

 

[nopatience101]

Hook will see season out.

 

[noisetheory]

I feel sorry for Griffin. While I don't think he's the right man to coach, it seems this is a really nasty way to get rid of him. And it risks undermining the playing group too. They still respect him.

agree. players may feel dudded.

 

[Battler]

Bennett, Bellamy, or potentially Hasler, are still the best coaches in the game for mine. Look at the squads that Toovey (the Manly playing group all know each other so well that I doubt much coaching actually goes into them), Robinson and Madge are playing with, the Roosters especially. The fact that Bennett took a dismal Knights roster to the semis last year is a credit to him, but Hasler might pip him in modern times given that he has made a horrendous halves pairing look like Origin quality. Neither Hasler or Bellamy are available, and Bennett is the reason why the Broncos are/ were the force that we fell in love with.

 

[Renegade]

I feel sorry for Griffin. While I don't think he's the right man to coach, it seems this is a really nasty way to get rid of him. And it risks undermining the playing group too. They still respect him.

As for Kearney - just get out.

I don't really feel sorry for Griffin, it's a results based business and as you mentioned before, there's not been any improvement since we made the prelim in 2011 (with Lockyer running the show).

It's a cutthroat business and there's no room for sentimentality. Yeah it sucks for the playing group, but it does make you wonder why they all love him yet haven't improved (as a side) since 2011 - my guess is because having been the coach of a lot of them since they were u20's, he's too close with them. They are comfortable knowing they can have a few down weeks and he'll be ok with that.

Some of them probably know that Bennett will come back and ruffle some feathers, and for those that are in their comfort zone, that is probably a very ominous sign. I don't know if going back to the future will help us in the long run, but at the very least it's about time we're doing something​.

 

[Rabbir]

agree. players may feel dudded.

I felt dudded watching the club have it's worst season in it's 27 year history last year.

Are the players going to take some responsiblity? Or is it all the dastardly Wayne knifing our friend Anthony in the back?

 

[noisetheory]

it would be HILARIOUS if bennett named hoffman at 6