What former Origin player and Souths Logan Magpies mentor Josh Hannay learnt most from master-coach Wayne Bennett

What did the great Wayne Bennett teach emerging Queensland under-18 and Souths Logan Magpies coach Josh Hannay?

QST_ALN_MAGPROJECT

SOUTHS Logan Magpies coach Josh Hannay has hardened his approach with his representative players after gleaning the advice of master-coach Wayne Bennett.

Third-year Magpies coach Hannay is the new Queensland under-18s State of Origin trainer and used a camp with the under-18s to pick the brains of the seven-time NRL Premiership-winning coach.

Bennett spoke with Hannay about pushing players to the limit at training, which was in contrast to Hannay’s previous belief of taking a softer approach.

“The main thing for me was that you don’t have a lot of time in these camps to find out the players’ capabilities,” Hannay said.

“Wayne said ‘don’t be afraid to push them, if they can’t handle being pushed to the limit then it’s better to find out in training than in a game’.

OTHER NEWS

Magpies juniors rejoin the club from Canberra Raiders

“He’s got so much knowledge … I’m still a relatively young coach — this year is only my fourth year coaching — so to work with Wayne to get his advice and hear his thoughts was just so beneficial.”

Hannay will look to guide the Magpies up the ladder after an 11th-placed finish last year. The club has enjoyed a strong off-season recruitment drive and Hannay said it was time for the club to win more games in 2016.

“It is time for us to push forward and start having a bit more success,” the former Maroons star said.