Wayne Bennett has defended his contentious no-show at Wednesday night’s NRL Hall of Fame function, saying he couldn’t attend due to “personal reasons”.
Bennett was one of 25 people inducted into the NRL’s Hall of Fame but declined to make the flight from Brisbane to Sydney for the event at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The veteran coach left it to fellow inductee Sam Burgess, who had made the long journey from England, to take the stage and speak on his behalf.
“This is probably not his style,” Burgess said.
“But the majority of people in this room would have been touched in some way by Wayne. We’re grateful Wayne is a part of this game.”
Speaking to this masthead on Thursday morning, Bennett explained why he had snubbed the function.
“It was a personal reason. I won’t discuss it. I just couldn’t be there,” Bennett said.
Wayne Bennett snubbed the Hall of Fame dinner because of “personal reasons”.Credit: Getty
“I made a decision about what was a priority and the most important thing. It was as simple as that.
“I didn’t think they wouldn’t miss I wasn’t there. But it had nothing to do with the game, nothing to do with last night, it has nothing to do with anyone there.”
Bennett’s absence drew criticism and Gorden Tallis expressed disappointment his former coach did not make the effort to attend, and said he should have shown more “respect for the game”.
Bennett said he was honoured to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and “elated” for the game’s latest Immortal, Ron Coote. Coote was revealed as the NRL’s 14th Immortal at the SCG function.
“Ron is a great man,” Bennett said.
“It’s still a bit overwhelming [for me]. From the time I was four years of age, I can remember rugby league being played and being around rugby league players. In my life, some of the best men I’ve met are rugby league players.
“To think you’re seen in this light, it’s very humbling. I’ve been rewarded so many times because of this game.”
Bennett expressed his pride in Burgess, who is expected to join the coach’s staff at South Sydney in time for the 2027 NRL season, after his deal with Warrington in the Super League expires.
Sam Burgess poses in his Hall of Fame blazer.Credit: Getty Images
“I was so proud for him Wednesday night, to come from England and do what he has in this game,” Bennett said. “He’s a proud Englishman, I know how proud he is about being English, but he’s also proud of Australia and the club he played for, and what he gave here.
“He’s one of those men who whatever he puts his mind to he will achieve – Sam will achieve whatever he wants to. Sam Burgess is a different bloke.”
A 14-person panel made up of journalists voted on the next Immortal. But the three living Immortals – Mal Meninga, Andrew Johns and Wally Lewis – were not consulted, and Johns later described the lack of involvement as “disrespectful”.
Bennett, however, said, “they were great players, they are great men, but it’s nobody’s prerogative to say they should be on a panel”.
“We know it happens every four years, it’s a very prestigious thing and a wonderful occasion for everyone who is part of the process,” Bennett said.
“But what we do need is a consistent plan when it comes to how you get on the panel.
“That’s for the NRL to decide. I was on the last two panels, I wasn’t on this one. I never asked to be on it in the past.
“They could come up with criteria where if you’ve been in the NRL 20 years as a coach, you could be eligible to be on the panel. If you’re a journalist and reported on the game 20 years, you could be on the panel. The same thing with officials. Maybe a couple of Immortals can be on the panel, but again, you nominate that, and they need to be in the game for a long time. I say 20 years, but it could be less. I’m just throwing an idea around.
“But nobody has a right to think they should be on the panel.”
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