‘Poor form’: Andrew Johns scorches Wayne Bennett
A new storm has erupted in the NRL with Andrew Johns telling Wayne Bennett the coach has gone too far after a “secret meeting”.
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Andrew Johns has given Wayne Bennett a serve over an aggressive move to steal Kalyn Ponga away from Newcastle.
The rugby league icon turned a blowtorch on Bennett on Sunday following a report the veteran coach had held a secret lunch meeting with Ponga.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the pair had lunch in Sydney on Saturday accompanied by Redcliffe CEO Terry Reader and recruitment boss Peter O’Sullivan.
It comes after Ponga continued his form slump in the Knights’ loss to Cronulla on Friday night.
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Ponga has been repeatedly mentioned as the Dolphins’ No. 1 target as the 17th franchise continues to build a squad from scratch ahead of the team’s entry into the NRL next season.
Bennett and the Dolphins have reportedly chased and then missed out on Storm stars Jahrome Hughes and Harry Grant — and Clint Gutherson from the Eels.
It leaves Ponga, Melbourne star Cameron Munster and Warriors star Reece Walsh as the Dolphins’ top targets.
Munster and Walsh remain contracted until at least the end of the 2023 season.
Ponga, however, has an option in his favour not to activate the final two years of his contract with the Knights — potentially opening the door for the Queensland State of Origin fullback to move to the Dolphins at the end of the year.
Johns, who is the greatest player ever produced by Newcastle, said on Sunday Bennett was out of line with such a brazen approach.
Bennett has limited time to persuade Ponga not to extend his contract with the Knights before a deadline in the middle of the 2022 season.
Johns said on the Sunday Footy Show, Bennett is going too far. Johns last year returned to work with the Knights as a specialist playmaker coaching consultant.
“I just think it’s poor form if Wayne flew down to Newcastle to meet with a player while they’re playing that season,” Johns said.
“It would definitely be a distraction.
“I think it’s poor form to fly to someone’s home town, while they are still playing, to try to get them to go to their club next year or whenever.
“Wayne, in 2000, (former Broncos star) Justin Hodges signed with the Roosters, so he put him on show in front of the team and sacked him, he played reserve grade all year.
“It’s different when it goes the other way. I think it’s really poor form.”
He said it was yet another example of the NRL’s recruitment and retention system becoming a farce — as highlighted by recent cases, including Panthers star Viliame Kikau playing an entire season for the Panthers, despite having already signed a contract to move to the Bulldogs.
NRL legend Brad Fittler described the current system as “ridiculous”.
Fox League commentators Braith Anasta and Mick Ennis on Saturday night said the Dolphins were better off chasing Munster and Walsh — rather than break the bank on Ponga.
“$1.3 million for Kalyn Ponga if you watched him play yesterday out at Shark Park he was anything but a $1.3 million player,” Ennis said.
“And I don’t mean that to be harsh, he is a wonderful player. I would love to see Kalyn stay at Newcastle, I really would and I think the best investment for the Dolphins moving forward, and it is just my opinion, is I think they go all in for Cameron Munster.
“And then they try and get Reece Walsh, I really do.
“I think you can’t afford to spend the amount of money on Munster and Ponga, I think they are far better off suited, you get Reece Walsh for half the price of Ponga.
“I think there is so much upside, in knowing Wayne Bennett and how he coaches, what he could do for Reece Walsh and where Reece could get to.
“We have already seen that relationship between Munster and Bennett it’s like the old days with him and Alfie (Langer), he loved coaching him in Origin.”
Originally published as ‘Poor form’: Andrew Johns scorches Wayne Bennett
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