Glenn Lazarus tells Wayne Bennett to ‘take a teaspoon of concrete and harden up’

FORMER NSW and Australian front-rower Glenn Lazarus has a message for under-pressure Broncos coach Wayne Bennett after claims the master coach was disrespected by club management.

Wayne Bennett’s future at Brisbane is uncertain.

FORMER NSW and Australian front-rower Glenn Lazarus has a message for under-pressure Broncos coach Wayne Bennett: “Take a teaspoon of concrete and harden up.”

Lazarus was responding to claims Bennett had been disrespected after Broncos management made a controversial approach to Storm coach Craig Bellamy.

Sacked by Bennett at Brisbane 12 years ago while coaching a Broncos Colts side, Lazarus took aim at Bennett and claimed the legendary coach should “suck it up”

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Wayne Bennett’s future at Brisbane is uncertain.

Many have claimed Bennett was embarrassed and disrespected by being forced to front the media to ask for a contract extension at the Broncos.

Lazarus disagreed, saying Bennett had been treated like every other coach in rugby league.

“Wayne needs to take a teaspoon of concrete and harden-up if he thinks he is being disrespected,” Lazarus told The Daily Telegraph.

“Disrespecting Wayne Bennett because we’re saying the Broncos want to replace him with Craig Bellamy – there’s no disrespect there, mate.

Brisbane great Glenn Lazarus (middle) blasted Bennett over the week’s events.

“Coaches get treated like this all the time if they’re under the pump by the media, clubs and the fans.

“Why would Wayne Bennett be any different? It just irks me. He should just suck it up.

“I know he just coached his 800th game but, as I say, as a head coach at the Broncos, he’s done his bit in getting rid of people, which was all played out in the media.

“Yes he’s a wonderful coach and has had great success but that’s the industry – coaches, players, administrators are all shafted at any given time.”

Brisbane has endured a mixed start to the season.

The Broncos have lacked consistency with many within the game failing to acknowledge them as premiership contenders.

“Mate, the Broncos are a very proud club,” Lazarus said. “They have been very successful for a long time and their fans and shareholders demand success.

“I think everyone would agree that they’re not playing particularly well at the moment.

“They are not to formidable force they were back in the day. People are demanding answers. Whenever that happens at any other club it’s the coach they get rid of first.

“Why should Wayne Bennett by different?”

Lazarus, the only player to win premierships at three different clubs, offered up a long list of men he claimed Bennett had dumped.

“Back in 2006, he got rid of me, Kevin Walters and Gary Belcher,” Lazarus said. “Also Steve Nance, who was a very loyal strength and conditioning trainer for many years.

Bennett’s job is under-pressure following claims the club are after Craig Bellamy.

“I was upset about it for a very long time. In our situation, with myself, Kevvie and ‘Badge’ (Belcher) – he left it (sacking them) until the season finished.

“So when he sacked us, got rid of us, we had nowhere to go. All the jobs at other clubs had gone because everyone had prepared for the 2007 season already.

“I was at him constantly, wanting to know where I stood in regards to 2007. I deserved to be told upfront.

“You talk about respect? The respectable thing to do would have been Wayne telling me in October that year that we were going in another direction and I could try and get another job.

“He (Bennett) also had something to do with ‘Hook’ (former Broncos coach and now Penrith coach Anthony Griffin) going for Wayne to come back to the Broncos. They shafted Anthony Griffin.”

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Originally published as Glenn Lazarus tells Wayne Bennett to ‘take a teaspoon of concrete and harden up’