Parramatta Eels boss slams link to Wayne Bennett in coaching role for 2025
Super coach Wayne Bennett has been linked to Parramatta as a director of coaching, a report which the Eels swiftly denied as a made-up rumour.
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Parramatta have slammed reports Wayne Bennett is being considered for a coaching director role from 2025 while underlining their confidence in coach Brad Arthur.
The emphatic denial from Eels chief executive Jim Sarantinos comes after reports emerged on Wednesday linking the Dolphins coach and seven-time premiership-winner to a position at the club mentoring Arthur.
“This is wrong and it has never been discussed. We’ve got no idea where it’s come from,” Sarantinos said in response.
“Brad is our coach and he leads our football program.”
Pressure is building on the Eels ahead of 2024 after a miserable season last year, where they missed finals after making the grand final in 2022.
However, the swift denial shows support for Arthur, who has been head coach at the club for a decade and is contracted until the end of 2025.
While the Eels are desperate to end the longest premiership drought in the game, Bennett has not been discussed as part of plans to deliver a title to Sydney’s west.
The role of a coaching director is similar to one held by Phil Gould at Canterbury, but requires a delicate balance of personalities and power.
Appointing an experienced mentor to oversee the club’s NRL coaching system is not part of plans for the Eels, nor do they believe it would work.
As for Bennett, a role as a head coach appears to be preferred beyond this season.
The 74-year-old will hand over the head coach position at the Dolphins to assistant Kristian Woolf at the end of the season and is seemingly without a job for 2025 despite making it known he is available.
He missed out on the New Zealand head coaching gig, which went instead to Kiwis legend Stacey Jones on Wednesday.
However, the Dolphins have long made it known an advisory role is available for Bennett if he opts to stay at the club beyond this season.
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Originally published as Parramatta Eels boss slams link to Wayne Bennett in coaching role for 2025
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