Jets coaches Ben and Shane Walker deserve NRL shot, says Wayne Bennett

WAYNE Bennett says rising Ipswich Jets coaches Ben and Shane Walker can succeed as an NRL package deal, as the Knights mull a bold move.

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WAYNE Bennett says Ben and Shane Walker can succeed as an NRL coaching package deal.

Bennett urged the Knights to consider giving the Walker brothers their long-awaited shot in the big league as Rick Stone’s fulltime successor.

Former Dragons coach Nathan Brown is favoured to clinch the Newcastle post, but Bennett is adamant the Ipswich co-coaches would not be out of their depth in rebuilding the Knights.

The Walker siblings will formally apply to coach the Knights in 2016 and believe their radical methods would bring a refreshing style to the structured world of the NRL.

In 2011, they inherited a wooden-spoon team, but have steered Ipswich to four

Intrust Super Cup finals series in five seasons despite inferior resources to cashed-up rivals Easts, Redcliffe and Townsville.

Ipswich are a feeder-club to the Broncos, prompting Bennett to conduct visits to appraise the Jets’ operations.

The Broncos coach, who quit the Knights last year to return to Brisbane after a turbulent three-year stint, rates the Walkers up to NRL standard.

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Bennett has had plenty of time to assess the Walker brothers’ qualities.

“They’ve done a great job at Ipswich,” Bennett said.

“I’ve been to a few of their games this year and the whole facility is great. They (the Walkers) have done a wonderful job with a restricted playing roster and restricted funds.

“If they get an opportunity to be interviewed (for the Newcastle job), I hope it goes well for them.”

The Walkers are adamant their tactical approach can work in the NRL, but privately some leading coaches believe their methods will be exposed at the highest level.

The Walkers’ strategic plan is based around time-in-possession, not completion rates, and running teams ragged with constant movement.

Asked if the duo’s unique style, dubbed “contract football”, can succeed in the NRL, Bennett said: “There’s no reason why it can’t work.”

Of Newcastle’s decline, Bennett added: “You are always disappointed to see what’s happened there, but it’s not my problem anymore.”

Ben Walker understands why many believe their methods are high-risk, but says their style would flourish in the NRL because players are fitter, fulltime professionals.

“If we had the Ipswich guys fulltime, playing the style we do, they would be better again purely because they would have more time to work on our structures,” Walker said.

“Players in the NRL are fitter and would be able to execute our game plans.

“We will never be assistant coaches in the NRL because our philosophies are completely different to anyone else’s so it would be hard for a head coach to embrace our style.

“But we’ve definitely done our time. Over the past five years we wanted to be comfortable with the way we’re playing to be able to transfer it to the NRL.”