By Dan Walsh
Wayne Bennett can play NRL Godfather and “settle all family business” as the Knights and Dolphins square off next Sunday to decide the last top eight spot in the final game of the NRL regular season.
Just as Michael Corleone settled old scores in the final scenes of the Academy Award-winning 1972 film, Bennett has been presented with a fortnight to mirror Corleone’s satisfaction when told of the demise of Barzini, Tattaglia and Co. in rapid succession.
Twenty-four hours after Bennett knocked off one enemy by dismantling his old Broncos outfit, with TV cameras capturing his trademark smirk late in the Dolphins 40-6 demolition job, Newcastle executed a similar rout of the Gold Coast.
The 2024 campaigns of St George Illawarra, Brisbane and Canberra all ended up buried beneath a 36-14, Kalyn Ponga-inspired victory that kept Newcastle’s own unlikely finals hopes alive.
Now with a sell-out crowd looming next Sunday at MacDonald Jones Stadium, Bennett returns to the Hunter a decade after his acrimonious exit rounded out the Nathan Tinkler years.
The Dolphins currently sit above Newcastle in eighth spot on points differential and, while an unlikely draw can open the door for the Dragons or Raiders – who square off Kogarah 24 hours earlier – to pinch the last finals berth, their fate is firmly in their own hands.
The Godfather: Wayne Bennett can smell yet another finals series.Credit: NRL Imagery
Bennett’s canny changes against the Broncos were the old master at his best, with Trae Fuller’s return at fullback shuffling Queensland Origin star Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to centre, Jake Averillo to five-eighth and Isaiya Katoa to the bench.
When it was put to him that the key trio hadn’t trained in those positions leading into the Battle of Brisbane, the 74-year-old only smirked and offered, “I will have to talk to those players. They’re talking too much.”
Only Ponga, who famously met Bennett in 2022 before rejecting a multi-million dollar offer to be the Dolphins’ inaugural marquee player, will hold as much influence next Sunday.
After a nervy opening against the Titans it was Ponga who took charge for the Knights, scoring their first two tries by breezing past David Fifita for one and then following up his own sharp ball-playing in support for the other.
Knights players celebrate a try with star fullback Kalyn Ponga.Credit: Getty Images
The reigning Dally M medallist’s lead hand carried on after halftime as winger Fletcher Sharpe finished with a hat trick and Newcastle continued their rise up the ladder having languished in 14th place just five weeks ago.
Higher up still, the Roosters, Panthers and Sharks will scrap for positions 2-4 next weekend, with Melbourne all set to host fourth place at AAMI Park in week one of the finals.
If it’s Cronulla that draws that unenviable road trip, a Saturday week one finals fixture looms given they’re playing the Manly next Sunday. If it’s the Roosters, almost certainly without Sam Walker and Brandon Smith after their shock loss to Canberra, a Friday night 1 v 4 match-up is back in play.
Meanwhile, the winner of Saturday’s Bulldogs-Cowboys clash will claim fifth place and a home final in week one.
Manly will most likely face the loser of that one, relying on a draw again to leapfrog the above pair.
If the Sea Eagles can beat Cronulla at Brookvale next Sunday – where they’re batting 9-2 this season – they’ll host a final there in week one as well. Lose and they’re on the road to either ANZ Stadium or Townsville.
Whoever prevails between Canterbury and North Queensland will host either the Dolphins or Knights, with Bennett closing in on a remarkable finals appearance in the new franchise’s second season and his last with the club.
After that of course, the Hall of Fame coach is South Sydney-bound.
Taking up an offer that perhaps he couldn’t refuse, with his loyalties questioned in some circles as the Dolphins slipped down the ladder only to rise again into finals reckoning.
To paraphrase Corleone, now Wayne’s talking business. Let’s talk business.
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