NRL 2024: Kristian Woolf opens up on succession plan for Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett

Dolphins coach-in-waiting Kristian Woolf explains what separates Wayne Bennett from the rest as speculation starts as to where the seven-time premiership winning coach will end up next.

Two weeks out from Wayne Bennett’s 74th birthday on New Year’s Day, Dolphins coach-in-waiting Kristian Woolf says the old super coach “certainly hasn’t lost” the spark that has made him so successful.

But while others have already started speculating where Bennett could end up when he hands over the reins to Woolf at the end of next season, Woolf is refusing to get caught up in the hype, and what life could look like at the Dolphins beyond Bennett.

With the highly touted Tongan and former St Helens premiership-winning coach set to take over from Bennett in 2025, Woolf conceded he was excited about the opportunity to finally get a crack at a head position in the NRL after an almost 20-year coaching apprenticeship.

But at the same time the current assistant maintained his priority was making sure the Dolphins are ready to hit the ground running next season after a 13th-placed finish in their debut campaign.

“Look, it definitely is (exciting),” Woolf said.

“But I am excited about what we are doing here for next season as well.

Dolphins assistant coach Kristian Woolf wants his focus to stay in the moment. Picture: Brendan Radke

“I think we have come a long way from where we were this time last year.

“There is a hell of a lot of improvement in everything that we are doing.

“That doesn’t mean that we are just going to go out and win games.

“But we are certainly going to be in a better position to go and do that.

“I can see that we are heading into the right direction.

“So, yeah, there is an excitement about 12 months away.

“But like I said, I am right into what we are doing at the moment and excited about what we are doing at the moment and enjoying my time with Wayne.”

Bennett has already said he has no intention of retiring and would consider a move back to Sydney or elsewhere if a job was to present itself.

That understandably has sparked a stack of talk about rival coaches who could come under pressure if their teams don’t fire next season.

Wayne Bennett talks tactics with Isaiya Katoa. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Asked what it was like working with the seven-time premiership-winning coach, Woolf said: “It has been good.

“He is a little bit different to other people I have worked for and you can see all the reasons why he has had so much success.

“He certainly hasn’t lost that.

“What I think he does really well is that he communicates extremely well with everyone.

“Everyone knows what their role is and he lets you go and do your role as well.

“That makes him enjoyable to work beside.”

The Dolphins have been one of the busiest clubs on the recruitment front with former Broncos Tom Flegler and Herbie Farnworth leading the charge along with former Bulldogs flyer Jake Averillo.

The Dolphins will also have tough lock Tom Gilbert back after he was ruled out for the season after suffering a dislocated shoulder during the State of Origin series.

Kristian Woolf (Redcliffe assistant coach) with crosstown rival Kevin Walters (Broncos Coach). Picture: Adam Head

It has many experts predicting the Dolphins could be one of the big improvers next season.

The return of Gilbert along with the recruitment of Flegler will give the Dolphins plenty of more impact in the forwards, while Farnworth and Averillo will be the first choice centres.

There was a debate about whether Bennett would consider playing Farnworth at fullback but he is expected to give Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow the No 1 jumper.

“There is no doubt that if we keep all those blokes on the field that we are going to have a little bit more quality about us in different positions,” Woolf added.

“As I said before, that doesn’t mean that we automatically go and get wins either.

“We have to make sure we have the work ethic behind us.

“We started the year last year with a real drive to want to win games and prove a point.

“We need to have that again.”