Wayne Bennett on coaching beyond 2024, the Dolphins’ chances and new signings
Wayne Bennett insists the fire within to call the shots is still burning – with the master mentor ready for free agency in 2025.
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Wayne Bennett has given the strongest indication yet he will continue coaching next year, insisting he can thrive at age 75 as the super coach plots a finals campaign in his swan song season at the Dolphins.
The NRL’s greatest all-time coach opened up on a range of issues ahead of the Dolphins’ season-opening derby blockbuster against the Cowboys on Sunday at Suncorp Stadium.
Bennett addressed speculation linking him with Sydney powerhouse Parramatta, his future beyond this season, the shock dumping of young gun Isaiya Katoa and why he will not tolerate the Dolphins being in a “comfort” zone this year.
“One thing we all know is I won’t be coaching the Dolphins in 2025,” Bennett said.
COACHING SHOCK
The NRL coaching merry-go-round went into a spin a fortnight ago when a report linked Bennett with a possible move to Parramatta. It was suggested Bennett, who turns 75 in January, would not replace Eels coach Brad Arthur, but support him in a Phil Gould-style role as director of football.
Speaking for the first time about the Parramatta speculation, Bennett said: “All year I will be dealing with this. Look, I haven’t had any approach from Parramatta. It’s not fair on other clubs who have coaches.
“What I do next year I honestly don’t know. But I’ll be doing something, I know that. We’ll see what other opportunities are out there.”
Bennett’s comments suggest the seven-time premiership winner is not ready for retirement. The Dolphins are keen to keep the 74-year-old in an ambassadorial role, but Bennett has no interest in mingling with corporates or selling sponsorships.
The master mentor is ready for free agency. There are suggestions he could coach the NRL’s 18th franchise, but fresh expansion may not happen until 2027.
In a telling insight, Bennett insists the fire within to call the shots is still burning.
“I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t love this job and love coaching,” Bennett said.
“I will not waste one minute of anybody’s time if I lose the eye for it.
“I will be honest with myself and everyone. I will walk out straight away. I have nothing more to prove in the game. There’s nothing to be gained by me not doing my job properly. I am living by that ethos.
“It (his final season at the Dolphins) won’t be emotional. The key is no emotion. I will get the job done. I’m not interested in myself or personal ambitions, whatever, I just know I have a team to coach.
“I don’t know if I’m at the Dolphins next year (in another role). I will get through the season and see what unfolds.”
PHINS UP
The code has witnessed many talented rookies crash-and-burn with second-year syndrome.
Bennett insists it will not be happening to the Dolphins this season.
After a respectable 13th-placed finish in their foundation year in 2023, headlined by their historic first-up boilover of the Roosters at Suncorp, Bennett will not accept mediocrity in Year Two.
“I’m sure they (critics) aren’t talking about us winning the wooden spoon and nor should they be,” Bennett said.
“We built our first year on players who have been winners. The Storm guys (Jesse and Kenny Bromwich and Felise Kaufusi) were instrumental in that with their reputations and what they have achieved in their careers.
“The important thing is that we are prepared to pay the price again. It’s a new season. We can’t get complacent. We can’t listen to all the backslappers for what we did last year and go into a comfort zone.
“We don’t want any comfort here at the Dolphins. We have to front-up again.”
CULTURE CLUB
Bennett refuses to talk playoffs, but pressure is on the Dolphins to surpass last season’s return of nine wins. There is a view the Dolphins have the experience, attacking punch and roster depth to be a genuine contender for the top eight this season.
“I wasn’t too worried about missing the finals last season,” Bennett said.
“It was our first season and all I wanted for the guys was to give me their best each week. We had a few bad games but overall I couldn’t have been happier with the group.
“This club reminds me a lot of the Broncos in the early years. I say that in terms of culture, not results.
“The Broncos were expected to win the premiership in year one because we had Wally Lewis, Gene Miles, Allan Langer and a whole stack of Queensland Origin players. This is the reverse of the Broncos in terms of expectation.
“But every organisation must be credible and there’s a lot of good people involved at the Dolphins.
“It’s not hard to go to work at the Dolphins, they are a tremendous group of men, backed up by a very good football and admin staff and a board that appreciates what you do for them.
“My instruction to the guys has been simple: ‘Do your best and give me your best’.
“I know what’s in front of me, but I need a group of men to come with me and that’s our challenge this season.
“The fabric of the Dolphins is enormously solid, no one will penetrate that place.”
NEW RECRUITS
The Dolphins’ off-season recruitment drive was as bountiful as any in the league.
Broncos grand-final prop Tom Flegler brings an intimidating edge; Brisbane teammate Herbie Farnworth is the reigning Dally M Centre of the Year and Canterbury flyer Jake Averillo has speed to match his versatility.
It is a measure of the Redcliffe organisation’s depth that Averillo has missed the top 17 for round 1. Bennett says the Dolphins’ F Troop – Flegler and Farnworth – can go to another level.
“I’m pleased with our recruitment. These new players will help us find a new level and that’s the way you build successful clubs,” he said.
“There is huge upside in Tom – I believe he can be the best prop in the game.
“I am pleased Flegler will work with a guy like Jesse Bromwich. It’s really important for a young forward to have older forwards as mentors. Tom is going to put his stamp on the game in the next few years.”
Of Farnworth, Bennett added: “I saw his attitude as a 15-year-old kid coming from England and I’ve never seen anything like it, his drive.
“Sometimes if you become obsessed with one thing, it can weigh you down, but Herbie has found a good balance off the field.
“The new recruits bring pressure inside the team now. The benefit of fresh blood is that other players now have to lift themselves if they want to be in the team.”
HALF THE BATTLE
Isaiya Katoa was a round 1 bolter last year. The former Penrith teenager ended up playing 22 games in a marvellous rookie season.
But Bennett dropped a bombshell on Tuesday, snubbing Katoa in favour of a Kodi Nikorima-Sean O’Sullivan halves pairing. Bennett insists he has not given up on Katoa, who turned 20 last month.
“I thought it was our best option,” Bennett said of overlooking Katoa.
“There wasn’t much between the four halves (Katoa, Nikorima, O’Sullivan and Anthony Milford) in pre-season.
“But you can only have one halfback and one five-eighth and I’ve gone with Kodi at six.
“Kodi was great for us last year. He played three different positions, he played halfback, he played five-eighth and he played fullback. I couldn’t fault Kodi’s contribution.
“Katoa is a very good young player, but it was a huge season for him last year and he has a few things to work on his game.
“Isaiya is 20 years of age. He’s still a project. He has one year behind him and has many more years ahead of him, but at the moment he has to stay patient and wait for his chance like the other guys who have missed out.”
WAYNE’S WARNING
Bennett scoffs at suggestions NRL teams could take the Dolphins, the league’s youngest club, lightly this season.
“Teams were wary of us last year. I don’t reckon, I know,” he said.
“That’s not going to change for us. We will get no easy games.
“Last year we had the bare numbers (in their 30-man full-time squad, but this season we have players who are first graders who may not play first grade each week. That’s the depth we have got.
“We have done more things right than we have done wrong. But if we don’t keep working at it, we can lose it pretty quick.
“Three yards forward and two yards back is not what we want.
“I want the Dolphins fans to be proud of their team. I know we can’t win every game and you can’t have every moment, but I want the guys to have a crack every week and not let the fans down.
“We weren’t easybeats last year and we won’t be easybeats this year.
“I can assure you of that.”
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Originally published as Wayne Bennett on coaching beyond 2024, the Dolphins’ chances and new signings
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