Eight things you didn’t know about Wayne Bennett

THERE aren’t too many people who know Wayne Bennett better than Wendell Sailor. The former Broncos and Dragons star provides a rare insight into the Supercoach.

QLD_CM_SPORT_NRL_BRONCOS_19MAR15

THERE aren’t too many people who know Wayne Bennett better than Wendell Sailor. The former Broncos and Dragons star provides a rare insight into the Supercoach.

1. HE’S ACTUALLY QUITE FUNNY

In the inner circle, where it’s just the team and family and friends, Wayne can be the life of the party when he wants to be.

He hides that side of his personality from the media, but he loves having larrikins around him and loves telling a joke and a story as well.

When you’re on the bus, all the cool kids are at the back — it’s sort of like school — and Wayne likes to be back there too with the boys.

I’ve had him over for dinner and even my kids couldn’t believe how different he was to the Wayne you see on TV.

My daughter once said, “Hey Dad. Wayne’s pretty funny sometimes, hey?”

Bennett knew how to keep Wendell Sailor in line.

2. YOU KNOW WHEN YOU’RE IN TROUBLE WITH HIM

When he gets angry, like really ticked off, you just know you can’t stuff around with him.

We were going into the finals in 2009 at the Dragons and I was talking to a few of the boys while he was trying to explain something.

Wayne says to me, “Shut up for a minute, you goose.”

And I said. “What? You’re the goose. You’re the one with the long neck.”

He just looked at me as if to say, “Mate, you’re in the wrong.”

And I knew it. They look that he gave me I just knew I was out of line and I had to fall back into line pretty quickly.

I remember another time in the 1990s when we were at the Broncos and playing against the Cowboys. We were down at halftime and Peter Ryan — one of our toughest players — missed a few tackles and dropped a few balls.

Wayne doesn’t put people on show much but he said, “Ryno, what are you doing out there, mate? You might as well be on the bench.”

Then Ryno and him went head to head in the dressing room and Ryno yelled at him: “I know I’m playing sh*t. I know I’m playing sh*t. I’ll make it up in the second half.”

They were both so passionate so it was one of those situations where we were all sitting around going, “Woah.”

You know where you stand with Wayne Bennett.

3. HE MOVES WITH THE AGES

There was a suggestion earlier this year, when the Broncos had gotten off to a bad start, that he had lost touch with the younger people and he couldn’t relate with the 20-year-olds.

Well, that’s false. He enjoys being around the next generation. One example is his relationship with Alex McKinnon, well before the accident. If Wayne needed to go to the shops or something, he’d call Alex and they’d go together. They’re that close.

Whether you’re a debutant or played 250 games, he can the best out of you.

4. HE HAS ONE BAD HABIT

Wayne loves his lollies and chocolates. He’d never touch a drink, he likes to eat pretty right, but he’s got a massive sweet tooth.

It’s weird for such a health fanatic.

We’d tease him: “Don’t have too much sugar tonight, mate. We don’t want you to get crazy.”

He’d start laughing.

5. HE WAS ONE OF THE BEST RUNNERS AT THE BRONCOS

I remember one of my first sessions, it was an 8-10km run and the under-21s, reserve grade, first grade and some juniors on scholarships were all running.

All of these guys are getting ready to run and then all of a sudden we see Wayne stretching up.

I’m thinking, “What’s going on here?” Little did I know he was a bit of a long-distance runner. He loved it.

He ended up finishing first or second every time we had a run. And he’d lead from the front. It wasn’t always about talk with him, it was about actions.

Bennett knows how to relate to players in trouble.

6. HIS STRENGTH IS WITH PLAYERS WHO HAVE BEEN IN TROUBLE

Wayne doesn’t drink because he saw his dad go through some bad times with alcohol. And I think that’s why he’s been so good for guys like myself and Darius Boyd, who have been through some trouble.

He’s more than just a football coach and people need to understand that.

7. HE KNOWS PLAYERS BETTER THAN ANYONE

Tactically, he knows the game as well as anyone. But the secret to his success is relating to his players one-on-one.

We’re all different personalities so you’ve got to tap into us differently.

Look at a guy like Jamie Soward, Wayne knows you need to build him up, make him feel confident. If he makes a few mistakes, just say, “Let that go,” and tell him what you want out of him in the second half.

With a guy like Gorden Tallis, if he was being a bit fiery out there, he’d say, “Mate, I want you to control that aggression because you’re going to cost us. You’re borderline being selfish out there.”

8. THE WAGS LOVE HIM, TOO

I marvel at the impact his had not only on the players’ lives, but also the partners’.

In that environment, he’s very well respected.

He’s so big on the family culture. He always want the wives and the girlfriends and the kids to be involved.

People say, “How can he be big on family when he’s away from his own for so long,” but he used to go home a lot to see his wife and kids.