Alright so Wayne Bennett has been coaching Newcastle for awhile now so I think it's fair to discuss whether he has improved the team or not. Personally I think he hasn't. The major problem in the Brian Smith/Rick Stone era was inconsistency. Now you would think that arguably the greatest coach in history could solve such an insignificant issue, but as it were he hasn't. Instead he's signed a bunch of average players in Boyd, Scott and Smith, which we didn't need and now lets genuine guns like Gidley playing scrum-half and Hilder rot in reserve grade. Does anyone know if he's had a stroke in recent years ? Might go some way to explaining his complete and utter incompetence. Unless he can think of a player to scapeboat, I think he should be sacked. #bennettout #bringbacksilverfoxrick
The most bizarre thing for me has been his treatment of Gidley. He could've solved some of our inconsistency by putting him in one position when Bennett arrived at the club.
Creepy. Was thinking about this just the other day tbh. The effect he had at the Dragons was fairly quick, at the knights though he seriously doesn't seem to have helped at all. On the field anyway. Sack him, no but I'd seriously look at moving him into a Phil Gould type of role.
Boyd will cost QLD series sooner or later, mark my words. As for Bennett, he is the most over rated coach in history. He should have one at least 10 premierships with the talent he had at Brisbane during his time there.
They have improved under Bennett IMO. I think some people's, including my own, expectations of him are extremely high. Unfairly so perhaps. The guy's had what 30, 35 games with Newcastle? He's had serious injuries with which to contend, a new roster, a tumultuous off-field relationship with the board and the financiers. He needs more time. A lot more time. And I think his record has earnt him that. There is no coach in the last 30 years who even comes close to Bennett's success. A premiership with Brisbane Souths. Took the Raiders to the GF in his first and only year there. 6 premierships with the Broncos. The first Dragons premiership in 30 years. Top 8 finishes practically every year. Finals finishes about 85% of the time. So he missed the finals with Newcastle. Big deal. He missed the finals with Brisbane in their first year. Then made the top 6 the next. Then got within one game of the GF in 1990. Missed the finals in 91 but then won two back-to-back in 92 and 93. The second of which Brisbane finished 5th (in the top 5) and then went on to beat all the top 4 teams in successive weeks culminating with yet another victory over Smith's Dragons. He's been to 11 GF's in the last 30 odd years. That's about once every three years. That is fucking incredible. He's made good signings. The Knights look the strongest they have on paper since Johns retired. Give him time.
After all, I mean they have been pretty fucking hot and cold this year and there are one or two games that they really could've easily and should've won. In which case they'd be in the top 4. They're sitting in 5th. That's not too bad after 10 rounds all things considered.
One of Wayne's biggest flaws is that he likes to stick with his favourites, even if there are sometimes better players available. But what sets him apart is that he's one of the best mentors and can really get the best out of his players when needed. It's pretty invaluable come finals time.
Knights roster is so fucking over-rated. I said last year and this year they will miss the finals. They just aren't that impressive.
