It may seem unlikely, but a Wayne Bennett, Gus Gould Penrith combo could work, writes Robert Craddock

IF there is one question which lingers from the Anthony Griffin sacking saga it is who on earth could handle the strain of working under the demanding, controlling and increasingly maverick Phil Gould?

Crash Craddock asks who would want to coach under Phil Gould?

HERE’S two words of advice to the 13 stout-hearted rugby league coaches who have thrown themselves at Penrith’s front door… good luck.

You’ll need it. And a flak jacket with double protection around the middle of the back for the knives sure to come your way when things go wrong.

If there is one question which lingers from the Anthony Griffin sacking saga it is who on earth could handle the strain of working under the demanding, controlling and increasingly maverick Phil Gould at Penrith?

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Crash Craddock asks who would want to coach under Phil Gould? Picture: Gregg Porteous

First thoughts say “no-one.’’ Second say Wayne Bennett.

Long-time protagonists Bennett and Gould did not rule out the prospect of working with each other this week.

I spent two days laughing at the suggestion before deciding it was so outrageous it could just work.

Why? Because both men are struggling and the mutual benefit of their union could erase the anxieties of any past feuds.

Bennett has fallen out so badly with the Broncos it is time for him to move on and Gould, following his disastrous handling of Griffin’s sacking, is desperate to deliver someone who will make fans start talking about the future and not the tortured past.

Crash says a Wayne Bennett, Phil Gould combination could work. (AAP Image/Darren England)

If you don’t think the Bennett move makes much sense there’s one that is just as “out there’’ – waiting two years for Ivan Cleary, who has a less than 50 per cent winning rate, to come off contract just so he can coach his son Nathan.

Bennett has not got much time left as a coach but he may have just enough petrol for one last tilt at a premiership with a ready-made team craving nothing more than a bit of Bennett spit and polish.

Gould’s credibility as an administrator has been blown apart midships by the shoddy sacking of Griffin, his embarrassing denials and attempts to rewrite history.

But if he landed Bennett he could wipe the sweat from his brow and settle the natives with the line “what about this folks … please welcome the super coach.’’

Panthers general manager Phil Gould has taken a major hit to his reputation this week. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett)

Of course it could all end in tears with two bulls headbutting each other into oblivion but Gould is smart enough to know that with Bennett in charge he could safely retreat to the front office and say “It’s all yours pal … (until we starting losing at which point I will butt in).’’

The highlight of the week for me was watching media-shy Griffin outwit Gould in their separate interviews, no mean achievement.

Where Gould has media connections scattered across Sydney and contracts with at least two media outlets, Griffin, by contrast, has never played the media game, has few friends in the fourth estate and carries himself in interviews like a man being grilled by a tax inspector.

Yet Griffin excelled on NRL360 while Gould, in a series of interviews, found the more he spoke, the more he became strangled by his own rhetoric.

Quotes like “Anthony wanted to control everything’’ had people thinking “seriously Phil, and you didn’t?’’

It was like Donald Trump telling someone to get a decent haircut.

Then when Gould claimed that Griffin’s interview with NRL360 was too soon after the incident — he did wait until Wednesday — Gould conveniently overlooked his own haste in doing an interview on Monday afternoon in which he revealed he still hadn’t even spoken to his players.

What a mess.

Australian golfer Jarrod Lyle will be missed by many. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

CRASH’S GOOD, BAD, UGLY

GOOD: The worldwide affection which has flowed following the death of golf star Jarrod Lyle. What a special man he proved to be claiming to be “lucky’’ for all the support he received as his condition deteriorated with cancer.

BAD: The sight of poor old Chautauqua, the eight-year-old galloper which is the fastest finisher and slowest starter in Australia, again refusing to leave the barriers. Deep down we still love him but he looks like a horse craving for an open paddock and juicy carrot.

UGLY: The full details of English all-rounder Ben Stokes’ night of shame in Bristol are just plain disturbing. He allegedly knocked two men out, tossed cigarettes on some others, mocked a gay couple and sledged a bouncer. He is lucky to be still playing the game.