Robert Craddock: Wayne Bennett set to go hard then go home as he masterminds Panthers upset

Brisbane saw their future on Saturday night - a simple, clear game plan enhanced by a decent leader with a calm voice and precise kicking game - and they can’t help but be impressed.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 03: Cameron Smith of the Storm warms up before the NRL Qualifying Final match between the Melbourne Storm and the Parramatta Eels at Suncorp Stadium on October 03, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Love him or loathe him, Wayne Bennett’s absence will leave a greater hole than any retiring player when he steps out of the front line for the first time in 34 years next month.

A few weeks ago Bennett fired up at Trent Robinson. On Saturday night it was Ivan Cleary’s turn to face the fire.

As we enter the closing weeks of the season before Bennett heads back to Brisbane for good, the veteran coach has become as intriguing as any player.

It’s almost as if he knows the end is nigh and has loosened the tie, unbuttoned the collar and said “if you want to know what I really think well here goes …’’

Bennett’s press conference take down of Cleary on Saturday might was pure Wayne, all at once captivating and convincing yet conflicting is some ways once you pulled apart the threads.

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Wayne Bennett was up to his old tricks pulling all the right strings to unsettle the Panthers.

Only Bennett could get away with totally agreeing that coaches should not be allowed to put pre-match pressure on a referee in a week in which he did precisely that.

Both Bennett and Cleary were in robust, strident moods and their stoush simply lit up the finals and reminded us why rugby league can be such a wonderfully entertaining off-field sport when you take the filters off.

Bennett’s public stance against Penrith’s block plays protecting Nathan Cleary seemed to distract and annoy the Panthers.

There’s no point arguing who was right or wrong because it doesn’t matter. Master string puller Bennett won the match and consequently the debate.

Cleary needs to be careful that Bennett does not get under his skin if they meet again.

For more than three decades Bennett has been happy to take the pressure off his players as big matches loom by becoming the story himself.

This is where he stands out from the pack. Bennett doesn’t crave the spotlight but nor does it intimidate him.

Bennett’s Saturday night press conference sent an electric crackle through rugby league and by Sunday morning his name seemed to be raised in every coffee shop conversation around Brisbane.

Rugby league will miss that gravitas next season even if he returns the following year with a second Brisbane team.

Cameron Smith’s skills with the ball certainly haven’t diminished.

TARGET PRACTICE

Cameron Smith may be a year out of rugby league but he can still hit a target.

Smith was on stage after his Tattersalls Club speaking gig on Friday where two autographed footballs were raffled.

Rather than have the winners come up on stage he sent bullet passes clearing two tables to the winners who, of course, he hit perfectly in the chest.

COPY RIGHT OR WRONG

Paul “Fatty’’ Vautin’s iconic one-handed catch in an Allan Border tribute game at the Gabba has become the subject of rugby league’s weirdest copyright protests.

Rob Moody, whose You Tube cricket highlights have made him a cult figure in that sport, was stunned when he was notified by You Tube that the NRL had claimed copyright ownership of the clip.

“I think it’s funny in that with all that is going on in the world at the moment and they are worried about something like this,’’ Moody said. “Allan Langer bowled the ball and Fatty caught it but they were not playing rugby league so I cannot see what it has to do with the NRL. They never had the rights to it.’’

The NRL told Crash Tackle it was unaware of the circumstances behind the removal of the highlight and was reviewing the matter.

*JUST IN*

The NRL has released the copyright claim

🏏 pic.twitter.com/YS0RVxO8aG

— Rob Moody (@robelinda2) September 12, 2021

ADAM’S APPLE

The Broncos saw their future on Saturday night — a simple, clear game plan that can lead them to a brighter world.

Adam Reynolds, who will join Brisbane next season, won man of the match honours with a near flawless kicking game that was the key to South Sydney up-ending hot favourite Penrith.

Reynolds repeatedly drove the Panthers back deep into the corners of their own half which meant they were regularly handed the challenge of having to run 80m or more in the same set to score.

Reynolds calmness and precision will be a godsend for a Brisbane team who have been craving a decent leader, calm voice and precise kicking game to harness all of their significant potential.