Wayne Bennett post-match press conference is as brutal as it gets

Veteran NRL supercoach Wayne Bennett has given Perth a taste of one of his all-time press conferences after his side’s loss at Optus Stadium.

Wayne Bennett wasn't having it. Photo: Fox Sports

Perth has been given a taste of a Wayne Bennett-special as the Dolphins coach delivered a typically brief press conference after his side’s 30-28 loss to the Newcastle Knights.

The conference sounded sparsely attended, likely because the second game of the double header between the Rabbitohs and Sharks started immediately after the first game finished.

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From our count, the reporter said 219 words in asking 16 questions, while Bennett said just 216 words in response.

It wasn’t like Bennett was rude or angry — he barely changed the level of his speaking voice throughout the press conference.

And the reporter was persistent at least, hitting on several issues, including a controversial penalty late in the game when forward Herman Ese’ese was penalised for a scrum infringement for holding the jersey of Knights forward Leo Thompson after the scrum broke.

It was already 30-28 at the time and the Dolphins had the feed of the scrum just 10m out from the Knights’ line with three minutes still to play.

Ese'ese was penalised for this moment. Photo: Fox Sports

However, it was just one of a few lines of questioning that Bennett has learned to masterfully bat away as he has so often throughout his coaching career in a two-and-a-half minute interview.

Reporter: First of all Wayne, commiserations on the loss. What were your thoughts on the match?

Bennett:

They’re a bit mixed at the moment, so I’ll keep them to myself.

Reporter: I’m guessing the Ese’ese stuff is playing on your mind?

Bennett: There’s a lot of things playing on my mind right now.

Reporter: What did you make of that Ese’ese penalty in particular?

Bennett: I’d say the referee referees to the laws of the game.

Reporter: You often see that in games and it’s not called. Did you think that should have been called a penalty?

Bennett: You’d need to ask the referee mate. I didn’t call the penalty.

Reporter: What were your emotions in that moment when it was called?

Bennett: I was fine.

Reporter: I guess it was such a crucial moment in your season as well, was that extra hard to take for you?

Bennett: There were a lot of things in the game that were hard to take. It just becomes one of them.

Reporter: Harping back on the first half, you must have been pleased with what you saw there?

Bennett: It was a pretty mixed day so I’m not sure when I was pleased and unhappy. It was a bit of both in the day.

Reporter: Jamayne Isaako, what did you make of the hat-trick?

Bennett: Well, he’s been one of our best players all season. He’s been a pleasure to watch.

Reporter: It’s the second time he’s done it this season as well, it’s quite remarkable.

Bennett: Yeah, as I said, he’s been one of our best players.

Reporter: What have you seen from him this season that seems to have raised his game even higher?

Bennett: Just the energy he plays with each week.

Reporter: With finals probably out of the equation now, what sort of goals do you set the team for the rest of the season?

Bennett: We didn’t really have goals about the finals, we’re just trying to be the best team we can each weekend, that’s our challenge.

Reporter: And just looking at today as a whole, where do you think were the areas that let you down?

Bennett: You didn’t watch the game?

Reporter: I watched the game.

Bennett: Well, you can write about it.

Reporter: But just from your opinion?

Bennett: I don’t want to share it with you.

Reporter: Why’s that?

Bennett: Because it’s just my opinion, I’m not really interested in sharing it.

Reporter: In terms of the Perth experience, what did you make of it all?

Bennett: It was great, wonderful. Great place, great stadium, it’s been very … very good, it’s a pleasure to be here.

Reporter: And injury-wise, how did you come out of today?

Bennett: Umm, I don’t think we’re too bad maybe. I’m not sure on that.

Wayne Bennett wasn't having it. Photo: Fox Sports

In the wrap up of the day’s play, Fox League’s Yvonne Sampson said it seemed Bennett “was not in the mood whatsoever”.

Cooper Cronk praised the reporter however.

“I’ll tell you what, the reporter did a good job, he stayed strong, he never faltered under pressure,” Cronk said.

“I might use the Wayne Bennett line next time you ask me a question Von ‘it’s my opinion, you’re not getting it’.”

Mal Meninga joked: “I don’t mind it actually.”

More seriously, Meninga said Bennett was definitely “less buoyant” than before the game.