.gif)
Wayne Bennett (rugby league coach)
Encyclopedia
Wayne James Bennett AM
(born 1 January 1950) is an Australian professional rugby league
football coach and former player. He is the current head coach for the Newcastle Knights
of the NRL. An Australian international and Queensland interstate
representative winger or fullback of the 1970s, he also worked as a Queensland Police
officer before becoming a Brisbane Rugby League premiership-winning coach, and in the 1980s earned selection as Queensland's State of Origin
coach. After starting his NSWRL Premiership
coaching career with the Canberra Raiders
, in 1988 Bennett was appointed the inaugural coach of the new Brisbane Broncos
club, later winning several premierships with them, and in 1998 was first selected to coach the Australian national team. He has since coached the St. George Illawarra Dragons and set Australian coaching records for most grand final wins (6) and most seasons with a single club (21).
, Wayne Bennett grew up in a working class family in nearby Warwick
with an alcoholic father who deserted the family when he was eleven years old, forcing Wayne to enter the workforce at an early age. He has two sisters, Michelle and Gretta and a brother, Robert. In spite of his upbringing he remains an avowed non-smoker, non-drinker and non-gambler.
Before becoming involved with the Queensland Rugby League
on a full-time basis, Bennett started to work as a police officer at the age of 15 while playing junior rugby league in Warwick. His family already had ties to the Police and rugby league in South East Queensland through his uncle, 1948 Kangaroo forward Eddie Brosnan.
and Souths. He was a talented winger and goal-kicker and represented Queensland 9 times between 1971 and 1973 (7 times against New South Wales
). Bennett also played two tour matches for Australia on the 1972 tour of New Zealand. Also in 1972 Bennett played for Toowoomba in the last ever Bulimba Cup final against Brisbane. After that he had a spell playing for Huddersfield
in England alongside fellow Queenslander and future brother-in-law Greg Vievers. He played for Brisbane's Brothers club and in 1974 under coach Paul Broughton
reached the Grand Final which they lost to Fortitude Valley
.
. Revenge was to come a year later when the Bennett-coached Magpies defeated the Seagulls 10-8 in the BRL grand final to take the premiership. This was against a Seagulls line-up featuring Wally Lewis
and Gene Miles
.
In 1986 Bennett took over from Des Morris
as coach of the Queensland State of Origin team
. The Maroons were beaten 3-0 in a series whitewash that year, however Bennett was retained as Queensland's coach for two more years.
In 1987 Bennett moved south to join the NSWRL's Winfield Cup Premiership when he was appointed co-coach of the Canberra Raiders
with Don Furner
. With the Queensland side, Bennett won the 1987 State of Origin series. He and Furner guided the Raiders to their first Grand Final which was lost to Manly-Warringah
18-8.
when the club was formed in 1988
. That season with the Maroons he defeated New South Wales in a 3 nil whitewash in the State of Origin, but Bennett discontinued his representative coaching to focus on the Broncos.
Bennett's reputation for being able to make tough and even unpopular decisions was characterised by his sacking of Wally Lewis
as club captain in 1990. At the end of the season the King was not made an offer large enough to retain him, with Bennett citing salary cap restrictions and the need to keep Sydney clubs away from more junior talent coming through.
The Broncos won their first premierships in 1992 under Bennett. In the weeks following the grand final Bennett travelled with the Broncos to England, where they played the 1992 World Club Challenge
against British champions Wigan
, helping Brisbane become the first NSWRL club to win the match in Britain.
The following season the Broncos again won the grand final, gaining a second consecutive premiership. During the 1994 NSWRL season, Bennett coached defending premiers Brisbane when they hosted British champions Wigan
for the 1994 World Club Challenge
and lost. Also in 1994 Bennett was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia
"in recognition of service to the sport of Rugby League, particularly as coach of the Brisbane Broncos".
Bennett was appointed as Queensland coach again for the 1995 series but pulled out of the position after players aligned with the breakaway Super League
organisation (including the majority of his club team, the Brisbane Broncos) were refused selection.
In 1997's Super League half of the football season, the Broncos under Bennett dominated, winning the 1997 World Club Championship as well as the Telstra Cup grand final in Brisbane.
Bennett resumed representative coaching duties in 1998 with Queensland and was also given the honour of coaching Australia when he was appointed to replace Bob Fulton
as Kangaroos coach. Australia was undefeated in two test matches against the Kiwis
. Bennett won his fourth premiership with the Broncos when they took the 1998 NRL grand final
and he was also named "Coach of the Year" at the Queensland Sport Awards.
Wayne Bennett ceased in his role as coach of the Australian national team in March 1999, being replaced by Chris Anderson.
In 2000 Bennett received the Australian Sports Medal
for "significant contribution to the development of sport". That year he also won his fifth premiership with the Broncos.
Bennett would again coach Queensland in 2001, gaining widespread attention after his decision to recall Allan Langer
to the Maroons from the European Super League
for the deciding third game of the 2001 State of Origin series. Queensland won the series and the decision was hailed as a "master stroke". Bennett remained Queensland's coach for the 2002 and 2003 series before stepping down again. He continued his involvement with coaching for Queensland through the Queensland Academy of Sport and in an off-field role with the Queensland Rugby League
. On Australia Day 2004 Bennett was honoured as a member of the Order of Australia
"for service to rugby league football, particularly as a coach, and to the community.
.jpg)
Bennett is a passionate advocate of international Rugby League, and was instrumental in the revival of the Tri-Nations
series in 2004. In that year he was again appointed Australian coach, and took Australia to reclaim the Trans-Tasman Trophy (lost to New Zealand in 2003) and win the second Rugby League Tri-Nations Series.
At the end of the 2005 season, after five successive years without a grand final appearance (currently the longest in Broncos history), Bennett decided to have a cleanout of the coaching staff, removing such long-time allies as Gary Belcher
, Glenn Lazarus
and Kevin Walters
. On 9 December 2005, it was announced that Bennett had resigned as Australia's coach, after the Kangaroos lost an international series for the first time in 27 years, and equalled their biggest loss in 98 years, going down 24-0 to New Zealand in the final of the 2005 Tri-nations series.
In 2006 a secret deal being brokered between Bennett and the Sydney Roosters
club for him to become their coach was made public. This is said to have caused the deterioration in his relationship with the Broncos management which eventually led to his resignation.
During the 2006 finals series, he became only the second person (after Tim Sheens
) to coach 500 premiership games. He also signed on to continue coaching the Broncos for a further two years. The sixth premiership final won by Brisbane against Melbourne
made Wayne Bennett the most successful Grand Final coach in history. He again was named Queensland's Sport Coach of the Year for 2007 and was made a life member of the Broncos club. His refusal to make an acceptance speech at the club's presentation ball showed the strain in his relationship with the Broncos.
Bennett coached the 2007 All Golds. In doing so, he introduced the New Zealand players to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
.jpg)
Bennett was originally contracted to the Broncos until the end of 2009 http://www.nrl.com.au/Clubs/Broncos/BroncosNewsArticle/tabid/104/NewsId/4110/Default.aspx, but on the night of 4 February 2008 at a Broncos board meeting, he submitted his letter of resignation and sought an early release at the end of the 2008 season.
Bennett's coaching future was confirmed on March 31, 2008, when he signed a three-year contract to coach the St. George Illawarra Dragons from season 2009.
After much speculation, Bennett became assistant coach and advisor to New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney
in 2008. This was in preparation for the Centenary test against the Kangaroos. Bennett was retained in the same role for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
, which the Kiwis won. Former New Zealand coach Graham Lowe has credited Bennett with the victory.
and Jason Ryles
. The club's player recruiting however was extensive: Jeremy Smith, Darius Boyd
, Neville Costigan
, Luke Priddis
, Michael Weyman
, Mathew Head
and Mickey Paea
. At the Dragons Bennett was to be re-united with former Broncos Wendell Sailor
and Luke Priddis
, both of whom had won premierships with him at Brisbane. Neville Costigan
, who also played under Bennett at the Broncos joined the Dragons that year in addition to Darius Boyd
and Nick Emmett
who also moved from Brisbane to St. George Illawarra at the same time as Bennett.
His first game with the Dragons was a golden point loss to the previous season's grand finalists, Melbourne Storm
. In round 4 of the 2009 NRL season Bennett returned to Suncorp Stadium with the Dragons and for the first time coached against the club he helped build. St. George Illawarra defeated the Broncos convincingly as the Dragons continued to lead the competition in defence. However, after winning the minor premiership in his first season at the club, it was the Brisbane Broncos who knocked the Dragons out of finals contention at the end of the 2009 season. It was the Broncos' first ever finals win at the venue, whilst Bennett's winless finals record continued at the same venue.
In the 2010 NRL season
, Bennett guided the Dragons to their second consecutive minor premiership
and on to the 2010 NRL Grand Final
, the joint venture club's second. After years of having a "choker" tag they faced the Sydney Roosters
at ANZ Stadium in the decider at the season's end. The rain fell across the ground during the match and Bennett's players had a fiery 2nd Half after a traditional spray at half time as they were being led 8-6 at the break. The Dragons under Bennett were successful in winning their first premiership as a joint venture who went on to beat the Roosters 32-8. It is a credit to Bennett as he has won 7/7 Grand Finals as head coach of a club. He is arguably the greatest coach of all time, surpassing Jack Gibson's record of 5 premiership wins, two with the Roosters and three with Parramatta. Wayne has won a total of 7, quite a feat.
The Dragons went on to defeat the 2010 Super League champions, Wigan Warriors
in the 2011 World Club Challenge
, but Bennett was absent, choosing to fly back to Australia days before the match to be with his ill mother-in-law, and leaving assistant coach Steve Price in charge.
On 30 March 2011 Bennett announced he would not continue on as coach of St George Illawarra beyond the 2011 season, in true Bennett style he kept his reasons for going close to his chest.
Bennett's final game at the helm of St. George Illawarra ended the way it started, with a heartbreaking golden point loss against his old club, the Brisbane Broncos
, at Suncorp Stadium. This extended Bennett's winless finals record at the venue to eight.
's newly-acquired Newcastle Knights
for 2012 on a 4-year deal. Darius Boyd
again followed Bennett to his new club, moving with him to Newcastle as he had when the pair moved from Brisbane to St George Illawarra.
Bennett has stated openly that he detests the media commitments required as head coach of a high-profile football team. Although on occasions he will happilly give in depth interviews he has also been known to act with hostility towards the press, avoiding questions, starting press conferences early and at times simply refusing to answer. This behaviour has in some parts attracted sharp criticism although has been defended in other parts of the Rugby League community, in particular by former NSW coach and Nine Network
personality Phil Gould
.
Wayne Bennett coached the Brisbane Broncos for twenty one consecutive years, since their first season. Under his leadership they were the most successful side, winning six premierships and never losing a grand final. It is unusual for a coach to remain at one club for so long and indeed maintain its success. The salary cap system in Australian rugby league makes it difficult to maintain a strong squad for long periods.
.
Bennett's wife, Trish, is the sister of his former teammate and one-time Kangaroo captain Greg Veivers
and English Rugby League stalwart Phillip Veivers. Wayne has won a Queensland Father of the Year award for helping to raise two of his children with disabilities. He appeared on Australian Story
on ABC TV
in 1999 to tell the story of his family life. Given Bennett's usual reticence, this deeply personal documentary was one of the most popular programmes in the history of that show.
Ben Ikin
is Wayne Bennett's son-in-law. He is married to Bennett's daughter Elizabeth.
With journalist Steve Crawley he wrote Don't Die with the Music in You whose title refers to a quote from the American intellectual Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
regarding failure to meet one's potential. The likes of Steve Waugh
, Lachlan Murdoch
, David Gallop
, John Singleton
and Jack Gibson
attended the book's launch at the Australian Museum
in Sydney on 7 May 2002. It has become one of the best selling books about rugby league in Australia's history (ISBN 0-7333-1107-5, ABC Books Australia). It went on to sell over 100,000 copies.
Bennett has also written a weekly column in The Australian
. His second book, The man in the mirror was released in November, 2008, soon after the New Zealand Kiwis' World Cup victory.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 1 January 1950) is an Australian professional rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
football coach and former player. He is the current head coach for the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
of the NRL. An Australian international and Queensland interstate
Queensland rugby league team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
representative winger or fullback of the 1970s, he also worked as a Queensland Police
Queensland Police
The Queensland Police Service is the law enforcement agency responsible for policing the Australian state of Queensland. In 1990, the Queensland Police Force was officially renamed the Queensland Police Service and the old motto of "Firmness with Courtesy" was changed to "With Honour We Serve"...
officer before becoming a Brisbane Rugby League premiership-winning coach, and in the 1980s earned selection as Queensland's State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
coach. After starting his NSWRL Premiership
New South Wales Rugby League premiership
The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League from 1908 until 1994, the premiership was the state's and later the country's elite rugby league competition...
coaching career with the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
, in 1988 Bennett was appointed the inaugural coach of the new Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
club, later winning several premierships with them, and in 1998 was first selected to coach the Australian national team. He has since coached the St. George Illawarra Dragons and set Australian coaching records for most grand final wins (6) and most seasons with a single club (21).
Early life
Born in the small township of Allora, QueenslandAllora, Queensland
Allora is a town in south-western Queensland, Australia, on the Darling Downs 158 km south-west of the state capital, Brisbane. The town is in the Southern Downs Region. The township is located on the New England Highway between Warwick and Toowoomba...
, Wayne Bennett grew up in a working class family in nearby Warwick
Warwick, Queensland
Warwick is a town in Queensland, Australia, lying south-west of Brisbane. It is the administrative centre of the Southern Downs Local Government Area. In 2006 the town of Warwick had a population of 12,562....
with an alcoholic father who deserted the family when he was eleven years old, forcing Wayne to enter the workforce at an early age. He has two sisters, Michelle and Gretta and a brother, Robert. In spite of his upbringing he remains an avowed non-smoker, non-drinker and non-gambler.
Before becoming involved with the Queensland Rugby League
Queensland Rugby League
The Queensland Rugby Football League is the governing body for rugby league in Queensland. It is a member of the Australian Rugby League and selects the members of Queensland State of Origin teams....
on a full-time basis, Bennett started to work as a police officer at the age of 15 while playing junior rugby league in Warwick. His family already had ties to the Police and rugby league in South East Queensland through his uncle, 1948 Kangaroo forward Eddie Brosnan.
Playing career
From 1970, Bennett played football for Warwick, and also in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership for Past Brothers, IpswichIpswich Jets
The Ipswich Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Ipswich, Queensland.Their name comes from nearby RAAF Base Amberley, one of the largest airbases in Australia. The Jets compete in the Queensland Cup competition...
and Souths. He was a talented winger and goal-kicker and represented Queensland 9 times between 1971 and 1973 (7 times against New South Wales
New South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
). Bennett also played two tour matches for Australia on the 1972 tour of New Zealand. Also in 1972 Bennett played for Toowoomba in the last ever Bulimba Cup final against Brisbane. After that he had a spell playing for Huddersfield
Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
in England alongside fellow Queenslander and future brother-in-law Greg Vievers. He played for Brisbane's Brothers club and in 1974 under coach Paul Broughton
Paul Broughton
Paul Broughton is an Australian rugby league football identity. A former player, coach and club chief executive, he is chairman of the Gold Coast Titans of the NRL. He also serves on the board of the North Queensland Cowboys....
reached the Grand Final which they lost to Fortitude Valley
Fortitude Valley Diehards
The Fortitude Valley Diehards were an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Brisbane suburb of Fortitude Valley.-History:...
.
Coaching career
Wayne Bennett has been one of the most successful coaches in Australian Rugby League history and has experienced success with the last three teams he has coached.Early years
Bennett began coaching in Ipswich in 1976, before moving to Brisbane Rugby League Premiership sides, Souths and Brothers. After the births of his 3 children, Bennett had a break from coaching. He returned in 1983 as coach of Souths Acacia Ridge under 16's as well as the Queensland Police Academy under 18's team which he took to a premiership. He used this time to implement his trademark extensive basic skills and slide defence drills. Bennett then took over the Souths job and took them to the 1984 grand final, which they lost to the Wynnum-Manly SeagullsWynnum-Manly Seagulls
The Wynnum-Manly Seagulls are an Australian rugby league football club based at Kougari Oval, which is in the Eastern Brisbane suburb of Manly West. They competed in the Brisbane Rugby League from 1951 to 1997. Since 1996 they have competed in the Queensland Cup. Their jersey is red, green and white...
. Revenge was to come a year later when the Bennett-coached Magpies defeated the Seagulls 10-8 in the BRL grand final to take the premiership. This was against a Seagulls line-up featuring Wally Lewis
Wally Lewis
Walter James "Wally" Lewis AM is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. Currently a commentator of the sport, he is widely regarded as the greatest rugby league player of all time...
and Gene Miles
Gene Miles
Gene Miles is a retired Australian rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative centre, he played his club football in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership before joining the Brisbane Broncos whom he captained.-BRL:A...
.
In 1986 Bennett took over from Des Morris
Des Morris
Des Morris is an Australian former rugby league footballer, coach and administrator.He played club football in Queensland for the Booval Swifts and Eastern Suburbs club of the Brisbane Rugby League, and represented his state on fifteen occasions...
as coach of the Queensland State of Origin team
Queensland State of Origin Team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
. The Maroons were beaten 3-0 in a series whitewash that year, however Bennett was retained as Queensland's coach for two more years.
In 1987 Bennett moved south to join the NSWRL's Winfield Cup Premiership when he was appointed co-coach of the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
with Don Furner
Don Furner
Don Furner is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. As a player he represented Queensland on nine occasions and also toured with the 1956–57 Kangaroos....
. With the Queensland side, Bennett won the 1987 State of Origin series. He and Furner guided the Raiders to their first Grand Final which was lost to Manly-Warringah
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
18-8.
Brisbane Broncos
Bennett was appointed to be the first coach of the Brisbane BroncosBrisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
when the club was formed in 1988
Brisbane Broncos 1988
The 1988 Brisbane Broncos season was the first in the club's history. The new venture team, competed in the New South Wales Rugby League's 1988 Winfield Cup premiership and, despite a strong start to the season, failed to make the finals...
. That season with the Maroons he defeated New South Wales in a 3 nil whitewash in the State of Origin, but Bennett discontinued his representative coaching to focus on the Broncos.
Bennett's reputation for being able to make tough and even unpopular decisions was characterised by his sacking of Wally Lewis
Wally Lewis
Walter James "Wally" Lewis AM is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. Currently a commentator of the sport, he is widely regarded as the greatest rugby league player of all time...
as club captain in 1990. At the end of the season the King was not made an offer large enough to retain him, with Bennett citing salary cap restrictions and the need to keep Sydney clubs away from more junior talent coming through.
The Broncos won their first premierships in 1992 under Bennett. In the weeks following the grand final Bennett travelled with the Broncos to England, where they played the 1992 World Club Challenge
1992 World Club Challenge
The 1992 World Club Challenge match was contested by the 1991–92 Rugby Football League season champions Wigan and the 1992 NSWRL season's premiers, the Brisbane Broncos...
against British champions Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
, helping Brisbane become the first NSWRL club to win the match in Britain.
The following season the Broncos again won the grand final, gaining a second consecutive premiership. During the 1994 NSWRL season, Bennett coached defending premiers Brisbane when they hosted British champions Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
for the 1994 World Club Challenge
1994 World Club Challenge
The 1994 MMI World Club Challenge was a replay of the 1992 World Club Challenge, with 1993–94 Rugby Football League season champions Wigan facing the 1993 NSWRL season premiers, the Brisbane Broncos, this time in Australia. Wigan were clearly the dominant club in the English game, having won the...
and lost. Also in 1994 Bennett was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
"in recognition of service to the sport of Rugby League, particularly as coach of the Brisbane Broncos".
Bennett was appointed as Queensland coach again for the 1995 series but pulled out of the position after players aligned with the breakaway Super League
Super League (Australia)
Super League was an Australian rugby league football administrative body that conducted professional competition in Australasia for one season in 1997. Along with Super League of Europe, it was created by News Corporation during the Super League war which arose following an unsuccessful attempt to...
organisation (including the majority of his club team, the Brisbane Broncos) were refused selection.
In 1997's Super League half of the football season, the Broncos under Bennett dominated, winning the 1997 World Club Championship as well as the Telstra Cup grand final in Brisbane.
Bennett resumed representative coaching duties in 1998 with Queensland and was also given the honour of coaching Australia when he was appointed to replace Bob Fulton
Bob Fulton
Robert "Bob" Fulton AM is an Australian rugby league football identity. Fulton played, coached, selected for and has commentated on the game with great success at the highest levels and has been named amongst Australia's greatest rugby league players of the 20th century.As a player Fulton won...
as Kangaroos coach. Australia was undefeated in two test matches against the Kiwis
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
. Bennett won his fourth premiership with the Broncos when they took the 1998 NRL grand final
1998 NRL grand final
The 1998 NRL grand final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 1998 NRL season. It was the first grand final since the National Rugby League's formation and featured minor premiers and the previous year's Super League premiers, the Brisbane Broncos against the Canterbury Bulldogs,...
and he was also named "Coach of the Year" at the Queensland Sport Awards.
Wayne Bennett ceased in his role as coach of the Australian national team in March 1999, being replaced by Chris Anderson.
In 2000 Bennett received the Australian Sports Medal
Australian Sports Medal
The Australian Sports Medal was an award given during 2000 to recognise achievements in Australian sport.Recipients of the award included competitors, coaches, sports scientists, office holders, and people who maintained sporting facilities and services. Over 18,000 Medals were...
for "significant contribution to the development of sport". That year he also won his fifth premiership with the Broncos.
Bennett would again coach Queensland in 2001, gaining widespread attention after his decision to recall Allan Langer
Allan Langer
Allan "Alfie" Langer AM is an Australian former multi-award-winning rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s who works as an assistant coach for the Australian national team and Brisbane Broncos...
to the Maroons from the European Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
for the deciding third game of the 2001 State of Origin series. Queensland won the series and the decision was hailed as a "master stroke". Bennett remained Queensland's coach for the 2002 and 2003 series before stepping down again. He continued his involvement with coaching for Queensland through the Queensland Academy of Sport and in an off-field role with the Queensland Rugby League
Queensland Rugby League
The Queensland Rugby Football League is the governing body for rugby league in Queensland. It is a member of the Australian Rugby League and selects the members of Queensland State of Origin teams....
. On Australia Day 2004 Bennett was honoured as a member of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
"for service to rugby league football, particularly as a coach, and to the community.
Rugby League Tri-Nations
The Rugby League Tri-Nations was a rugby league tournament involving the top three nations in the sport: Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand...
series in 2004. In that year he was again appointed Australian coach, and took Australia to reclaim the Trans-Tasman Trophy (lost to New Zealand in 2003) and win the second Rugby League Tri-Nations Series.
At the end of the 2005 season, after five successive years without a grand final appearance (currently the longest in Broncos history), Bennett decided to have a cleanout of the coaching staff, removing such long-time allies as Gary Belcher
Gary Belcher
Gary Belcher is an Australian rugby league football commentator and former player of the 1980s and '90s. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative goal-kicking fullback, he played club football in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership for Souths and in the NSWRL...
, Glenn Lazarus
Glenn Lazarus
Glenn Patrick Lazarus is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s who has been named amongst the nation's finest of the 20th century. He primarily played at prop forward, representing Australia internationally and New South Wales in State of Origin...
and Kevin Walters
Kevin Walters
Kevin David Walters is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is currently the assistant coach for NRL club Melbourne Storm. He joined them from French club Catalans Dragons of Europe's Super League as their head coach. Before that he was head coach of the...
. On 9 December 2005, it was announced that Bennett had resigned as Australia's coach, after the Kangaroos lost an international series for the first time in 27 years, and equalled their biggest loss in 98 years, going down 24-0 to New Zealand in the final of the 2005 Tri-nations series.
In 2006 a secret deal being brokered between Bennett and the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
club for him to become their coach was made public. This is said to have caused the deterioration in his relationship with the Broncos management which eventually led to his resignation.
During the 2006 finals series, he became only the second person (after Tim Sheens
Tim Sheens
Tim Sheens is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He currently coaches the Wests Tigers of the National Rugby League and in 2009 was appointed coach of the Australian national team, the Kangaroos...
) to coach 500 premiership games. He also signed on to continue coaching the Broncos for a further two years. The sixth premiership final won by Brisbane against Melbourne
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
made Wayne Bennett the most successful Grand Final coach in history. He again was named Queensland's Sport Coach of the Year for 2007 and was made a life member of the Broncos club. His refusal to make an acceptance speech at the club's presentation ball showed the strain in his relationship with the Broncos.
Bennett coached the 2007 All Golds. In doing so, he introduced the New Zealand players to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Bennett's coaching future was confirmed on March 31, 2008, when he signed a three-year contract to coach the St. George Illawarra Dragons from season 2009.
After much speculation, Bennett became assistant coach and advisor to New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney
Stephen Kearney
Stephen Peter Kearney, ONZM is a professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Parramatta Eels in the NRL as well as the New Zealand national team...
in 2008. This was in preparation for the Centenary test against the Kangaroos. Bennett was retained in the same role for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
, which the Kiwis won. Former New Zealand coach Graham Lowe has credited Bennett with the victory.
St George Illawarra Dragons
The Bennett era at St George Illawarra began with high turnover of staff and players. High performance director Jeremy Hickmans, conditioner Scott Campbell and manager/assistant Paul Massey were recruited to replace the existing staff, while the playing roster had recently lost high profile stars Mark GasnierMark Gasnier
Mark Gasnier is an Australian former rugby league player, a state and national representative centre three-quarter. He played eleven top-grade seasons with the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the NRL, interrupted by two seasons of rugby union played with the French club Stade Français. He was a...
and Jason Ryles
Jason Ryles
Jason Ryles is an Australian rugby league player. He has played in the National Rugby League for the Sydney Roosters and the St. George Illawarra Dragons and in Europe's Super League for the Catalans Dragons. He is contracted to play for the Melbourne Storm from 2012...
. The club's player recruiting however was extensive: Jeremy Smith, Darius Boyd
Darius Boyd
Darius Boyd is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently playing for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL. Boyd plays at fullback, however he is also very capable as a three-quarter back, as proven by his selection for Australia and Queensland as a winger...
, Neville Costigan
Neville Costigan
Neville Costigan is a professional rugby league footballer for the Newcastle Knights of the National Rugby League. A Queensland State of Origin and Papua New Guinea international representative, Costigan previously played for the Brisbane Broncos, Canberra Raiders and most recently, the St...
, Luke Priddis
Luke Priddis
Luke Priddis is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s...
, Michael Weyman
Michael Weyman
Michael Weyman is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the St. George Illawarra Dragons of the National Rugby League...
, Mathew Head
Mathew Head
Mathew Head is an Australian professional rugby league player for the St. George Illawarra Dragons. He previously played for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League and Hull in Super League. He primarily plays at half-back.-St. George Illawarra Dragons:Head's career has been plagued by...
and Mickey Paea
Mickey Paea
Mickey Paea is an Australian rugby league player of Tongan descent who currently plays for the Hull Kingston Rovers in the Super League competition.-Playing career:...
. At the Dragons Bennett was to be re-united with former Broncos Wendell Sailor
Wendell Sailor
Wendell Jermaine Sailor is an Australian former professional rugby football player who represented his country in both rugby league and rugby union – a dual code international. He is an Australian Torres Strait Islander.Sailor's large frame and bullocking style changed the way wingers played rugby...
and Luke Priddis
Luke Priddis
Luke Priddis is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s...
, both of whom had won premierships with him at Brisbane. Neville Costigan
Neville Costigan
Neville Costigan is a professional rugby league footballer for the Newcastle Knights of the National Rugby League. A Queensland State of Origin and Papua New Guinea international representative, Costigan previously played for the Brisbane Broncos, Canberra Raiders and most recently, the St...
, who also played under Bennett at the Broncos joined the Dragons that year in addition to Darius Boyd
Darius Boyd
Darius Boyd is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently playing for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL. Boyd plays at fullback, however he is also very capable as a three-quarter back, as proven by his selection for Australia and Queensland as a winger...
and Nick Emmett
Nick Emmett
Nick Emmett is an Australian professional rugby league player for the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League...
who also moved from Brisbane to St. George Illawarra at the same time as Bennett.
His first game with the Dragons was a golden point loss to the previous season's grand finalists, Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
. In round 4 of the 2009 NRL season Bennett returned to Suncorp Stadium with the Dragons and for the first time coached against the club he helped build. St. George Illawarra defeated the Broncos convincingly as the Dragons continued to lead the competition in defence. However, after winning the minor premiership in his first season at the club, it was the Brisbane Broncos who knocked the Dragons out of finals contention at the end of the 2009 season. It was the Broncos' first ever finals win at the venue, whilst Bennett's winless finals record continued at the same venue.
In the 2010 NRL season
2010 NRL season
The 2010 NRL season was the 103rd season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the thirteenth run by the National Rugby League. The season commenced on 12 March and ended with the Grand Final, played on 3 October at ANZ Stadium...
, Bennett guided the Dragons to their second consecutive minor premiership
Minor premiership
A minor premiership is the name of the title given to the team which finishes a sporting competition first in the league standings after the regular season but prior to commencement of the playoffs....
and on to the 2010 NRL Grand Final
2010 NRL Grand Final
The 2010 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2010 NRL season. Played on Sunday, 3 October at Sydney's ANZ Stadium, the match was contested by the St. George Illawarra Dragons and the Sydney Roosters. It was the first time the two sides met in a grand final. They...
, the joint venture club's second. After years of having a "choker" tag they faced the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
at ANZ Stadium in the decider at the season's end. The rain fell across the ground during the match and Bennett's players had a fiery 2nd Half after a traditional spray at half time as they were being led 8-6 at the break. The Dragons under Bennett were successful in winning their first premiership as a joint venture who went on to beat the Roosters 32-8. It is a credit to Bennett as he has won 7/7 Grand Finals as head coach of a club. He is arguably the greatest coach of all time, surpassing Jack Gibson's record of 5 premiership wins, two with the Roosters and three with Parramatta. Wayne has won a total of 7, quite a feat.
The Dragons went on to defeat the 2010 Super League champions, Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
in the 2011 World Club Challenge
2011 World Club Challenge
The 2011 World Club Challenge was contested by Super League XV champions, Wigan Warriors, and 2010 NRL Premiers, the St. George Illawarra Dragons...
, but Bennett was absent, choosing to fly back to Australia days before the match to be with his ill mother-in-law, and leaving assistant coach Steve Price in charge.
On 30 March 2011 Bennett announced he would not continue on as coach of St George Illawarra beyond the 2011 season, in true Bennett style he kept his reasons for going close to his chest.
Bennett's final game at the helm of St. George Illawarra ended the way it started, with a heartbreaking golden point loss against his old club, the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
, at Suncorp Stadium. This extended Bennett's winless finals record at the venue to eight.
Newcastle Knights
On 12 April 2011 Bennett announced that he would be joining Nathan TinklerNathan Tinkler
Nathan Tinkler is a mining magnate and businessman from the Hunter Region, New South Wales, Australia.-Biography:Tinkler was an electrician in a coal mine before starting his own business. His big break came in 2006 when he borrowed $500,000 to buy a mine. He sold his company to Macarthur Coal...
's newly-acquired Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
for 2012 on a 4-year deal. Darius Boyd
Darius Boyd
Darius Boyd is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently playing for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL. Boyd plays at fullback, however he is also very capable as a three-quarter back, as proven by his selection for Australia and Queensland as a winger...
again followed Bennett to his new club, moving with him to Newcastle as he had when the pair moved from Brisbane to St George Illawarra.
Coaching Awards
- 1997 Super LeagueSuper League (Australia)Super League was an Australian rugby league football administrative body that conducted professional competition in Australasia for one season in 1997. Along with Super League of Europe, it was created by News Corporation during the Super League war which arose following an unsuccessful attempt to...
Coach of the Year - 2000 NRL Coach of the Year
Public persona
Bennett is known for a number of unusual and distinguishable behaviours which have on occasion been the subject of media attention, both positive and negative. These include Bennett's taciturn nature and reputation for almost never smiling and appearing outwardly "unemotional". Television coverage of NRL matches typically involves some footage of the coaches box at crucial points of the match whereby the coaches more often than not will reflect the on field status quo. Bennett however will normally be shown sternly watching the game intensely without any real signs of emotion irrespective of the events unfolding. In 2004 Ray Warren drew attention to this, stating that "Nathan Hindmarsh will get a haircut the next time Wayne Bennett smiles". Hindmarsh, a Parramatta forward, had long and untamed hair. Since the Broncos won the 2006 premiership Hindmarsh has sported a neat, short head of hair. After the Broncos 1993 Grand Final Victory captain Alan Langer also drew attention to it by indicating in his victory address that seeing Bennett smile would be a great reward in itself.Bennett has stated openly that he detests the media commitments required as head coach of a high-profile football team. Although on occasions he will happilly give in depth interviews he has also been known to act with hostility towards the press, avoiding questions, starting press conferences early and at times simply refusing to answer. This behaviour has in some parts attracted sharp criticism although has been defended in other parts of the Rugby League community, in particular by former NSW coach and Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
personality Phil Gould
Phil Gould
Phil Gould is an Australian rugby league broadcaster, journalist, administrator and former player and coach. Since the 1990s he has had a prominent role in Channel 9's coverage of rugby league, as a commentator on their match-day coverage, and appears on The Sunday Footy Show and The Sunday Roast...
.
Wayne Bennett coached the Brisbane Broncos for twenty one consecutive years, since their first season. Under his leadership they were the most successful side, winning six premierships and never losing a grand final. It is unusual for a coach to remain at one club for so long and indeed maintain its success. The salary cap system in Australian rugby league makes it difficult to maintain a strong squad for long periods.
Personal life
Wayne Bennett's brother Bob Bennett has also coached rugby league at international level with the Papua New Guinea teamPapua New Guinea national rugby league team
The Papua New Guinea national rugby league team represents Papua New Guinea internationally in the sport of rugby league football.In Papua New Guinea, Rugby league is highly popular and is regarded as the country’s national sport. The national side are known as the Kumuls...
.
Bennett's wife, Trish, is the sister of his former teammate and one-time Kangaroo captain Greg Veivers
Greg Veivers
Greg Veivers is an Australian former rugby league footballer who captained the Kangaroos in a World Cup match in 1977. He represented Australia in seven World Cup matches from 1975 and 1977. He was a front-rower and a regular Queensland state representative from 1970 to 1978.-Early life and...
and English Rugby League stalwart Phillip Veivers. Wayne has won a Queensland Father of the Year award for helping to raise two of his children with disabilities. He appeared on Australian Story
Australian Story
Australian Story is a national weekly documentary series, produced and broadcast on ABC Television.Since 1996 Australian Story has featured many Australians from diverse backgrounds and reputations...
on ABC TV
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
in 1999 to tell the story of his family life. Given Bennett's usual reticence, this deeply personal documentary was one of the most popular programmes in the history of that show.
Ben Ikin
Ben Ikin
Benjamin Ikin is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and former commentator for the Nine Network now employed by One HD...
is Wayne Bennett's son-in-law. He is married to Bennett's daughter Elizabeth.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. was an American physician, professor, lecturer, and author. Regarded by his peers as one of the best writers of the 19th century, he is considered a member of the Fireside Poets. His most famous prose works are the "Breakfast-Table" series, which began with The Autocrat...
regarding failure to meet one's potential. The likes of Steve Waugh
Steve Waugh
Stephen Rodger "Steve" Waugh, AO is a former Australian cricketer and fraternal twin of cricketer Mark Waugh. A right-handed batsman, he was also a successful medium-pace bowler...
, Lachlan Murdoch
Lachlan Murdoch
Lachlan Keith Murdoch is the eldest son of Australian-American media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his second wife Anna Torv. He resigned from his executive positions at News Corporation on 29 July 2005...
, David Gallop
David Gallop
David Gallop is an Australian sports administrator who has been the Chief Executive Officer of the National Rugby League since February 2002. He has also been the Secretary of the Rugby League International Federation since its inception in 1998.-Early life:...
, John Singleton
John Singleton (Australian entrepreneur)
John Desmond Singleton AM is an Australian entrepreneur. He built his success and wealth in the advertising business in Australia in the 1970s and 1980s...
and Jack Gibson
Jack Gibson (rugby league)
Jack Arthur Gibson OAM was an Australian rugby league identity – a player, commentator and most notably a coach...
attended the book's launch at the Australian Museum
Australian Museum
The Australian Museum is the oldest museum in Australia, with an international reputation in the fields of natural history and anthropology. It features collections of vertebrate and invertebrate zoology, as well as mineralogy, palaeontology, and anthropology...
in Sydney on 7 May 2002. It has become one of the best selling books about rugby league in Australia's history (ISBN 0-7333-1107-5, ABC Books Australia). It went on to sell over 100,000 copies.
Bennett has also written a weekly column in The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
. His second book, The man in the mirror was released in November, 2008, soon after the New Zealand Kiwis' World Cup victory.
Quotations
- If you want to be mentally tough, do as Wayne Bennett says: follow your beliefs and don't give in to yourself. — Steve WaughSteve WaughStephen Rodger "Steve" Waugh, AO is a former Australian cricketer and fraternal twin of cricketer Mark Waugh. A right-handed batsman, he was also a successful medium-pace bowler...
- I believe that Bennett stands somewhere below Jack GibsonJack Gibson (rugby league)Jack Arthur Gibson OAM was an Australian rugby league identity – a player, commentator and most notably a coach...
, which is somewhere just above God. — Roy Masters
- Wayne is a man whose success is built on loyalty, discipline and an innate recognition of individual worth. — Lachlan MurdochLachlan MurdochLachlan Keith Murdoch is the eldest son of Australian-American media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his second wife Anna Torv. He resigned from his executive positions at News Corporation on 29 July 2005...
- Will I miss him? I miss coaching against them all. I will say that it is a shame that Wayne won't be there. With all due respect to Michael HaganMichael HaganMichael Hagan is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player. He currently works as assistant coach under Mal Meninga for the record-breaking Queensland rugby league team...
, Wayne Bennett and Queensland go hand in hand... I enjoy coaching against quality coaches, and Wayne Bennett is that. I have really enjoyed coaching against Wayne for the last two years. — Phil GouldPhil GouldPhil Gould is an Australian rugby league broadcaster, journalist, administrator and former player and coach. Since the 1990s he has had a prominent role in Channel 9's coverage of rugby league, as a commentator on their match-day coverage, and appears on The Sunday Footy Show and The Sunday Roast...
- I don't know how he does it. He's like a father to all the players and anyone's got problems on or off the field he'll fix them if he can. But he's not only a father figure I think I class him as one of my best friends. — Allan LangerAllan LangerAllan "Alfie" Langer AM is an Australian former multi-award-winning rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s who works as an assistant coach for the Australian national team and Brisbane Broncos...
- Wayne Bennett believes in himself and his players, and he always will. — Darren LockyerDarren LockyerDarren Lockyer is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. He was the captain of the Australian national team, the Queensland State of Origin team and his National Rugby League club, the Brisbane Broncos. His professional career spanned between 1995 and 2011...