NRL 2024: Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett says Broncos recruit Herbie Farnworth has found form following ‘shocking’ start to season

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett didn’t mince his words when asked about the season of Broncos recruit Herbie Farnworth, with a battle against form centre Stephen Crichton looming.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 11: Herbie Farnworth of the Dolphins celebrates scoring a try during the round 23 NRL match between Dolphins and New Zealand Warriors at Suncorp Stadium, on August 11, 2024, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

Wayne Bennett has delivered a brutally honest assessment of Herbie Farnworth’s first year at the Dolphins ahead of a season-defining showdown with Bulldogs star Stephen Crichton.

Farnworth and Crichton will go head-to-head at Bundaberg’s Salter Oval on Saturday in what is a crucial clash for the finals hopefuls from Redcliffe.

Bennett is attempting to lead the NRL’s youngest club to its first play-offs appearance in only its second season in the top grade.

Sitting eighth on the ladder with a 10-10 record, the Dolphins will likely have to win at least two of their remaining four matches to finish the regular season in the top eight.

Wayne Bennett has challenged Herbie Farnworth in the club’s game against the Bulldogs. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

But that won’t be easy with clashes against top four hopefuls Canterbury (away), premiership favourites Melbourne (away), the desperate Broncos (home) and Newcastle (away) to come.

A string of second half fade-outs could come back to haunt the Dolphins, but Bennett insisted no game was more important than another in the run to September.

“It’s no more important than the one we played last week or the week before,” he said.

“We’ve got four games to go. The season’s nearly finished so every one of those games is important, but they’ve been that way all season.

“(The Storm and Panthers) both played their hearts out (on Thursday night) because it was important.

“We need to be patient. We’ve been losing a lot of ball, not completing sets and playing into their hands.

“When we get in good field position, you can’t be disappointed if you don’t get a try. We have to stay at it.

“They’re defending well, the Bulldogs, and we’ve got to be prepared to produce the same effort and be patient.”

The showdown between Crichton and Farnworth is being billed as the battle to be crowned the NRL’s number one centre.

Farnworth will be up against form centre Stephen Crichton. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

After a slow start to the year with the Dolphins following his move from the Broncos, which included an early-season shoulder injury, Farnworth has been hard to handle in recent weeks.

He scored a double in last Sunday’s golden-point win against the Warriors and Bennett said the England Test star was warming up.

“He had to settle in,” he said.

“He had a few moments and few shocking games that weren’t to his standard, but his last six weeks or so he’s been getting better every week.

“He was very good again on the weekend and we expect the same from him.

“That (Farnworth-Crichton battle) looks pretty good. It will be a bit of a contest.

“They’re both pretty proud men playing good football.

“They’ll be doing their best against each other.”

Originally published as NRL 2024: Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett says Broncos recruit Herbie Farnworth has found form following ‘shocking’ start to season