NRL Market Watch: How Wayne Bennett recruited Mark Nicholls with seven words

Recruitment has been tough for the NRL’s newest franchise but it it was straightforward for coach Wayne Bennett to snare one important signing.

Wayne Bennett addresses the media at Kayo Stadium. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Master coach Wayne Bennett is well-known as a man of few words and it took just seven to convince Mark Nicholls a switch from Redfern to Redcliffe was the right move.

“Do you want to have some fun?” was Bennett’s text to his former South Sydney pupil that set the wheels in motion for a reunion between player and coach at the Dolphins in 2023.

“A few of the boys give me a bit of stick about whether he’s my dad or not,” the 128-game NRL prop joked.

“I didn’t know Wayne before he came to South Sydney. Obviously all you see of Wayne is what you get in the media and sometimes he can look a bit cranky, but I noticed a lot of his players that played under him spoke about him as a father figure and how they loved their coach.

Wayne Bennett and Mark Nicholls. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“I’d never had that relationship with a coach. I thought it was a bit weird, but when I got to know the old fella I quickly realised that’s what he’s good at.

“He understands his players, he gets to know each player and what makes them tick and what they do away from the footy field and from there he just creates a relationship where you don’t want to let him down and it naturally brings the best out of you on the footy field.”

Redcliffe was a hive of activity on Wednesday for the club’s first open training session at the newly-named Kayo Stadium, with hundreds of fans watching.

Nicholls is no stranger to fresh faces at new clubs, having spent time at the Raiders and Storm before the Rabbitohs.

Bennett’s connection with his players will be particularly crucial in these early stages, Nichollas says, because of all the new hurdles that aren’t in place at established NRL clubs.

“He handles everything that comes with being an NRL coach, but mostly he just brings the best out in players,” Nicholls said.

Mark Nicholls played under Wayne Bennett at the Rabbitohs. Picture: Getty Images

“He’s done it year-on-year for decades and I think that’s what the Dolphins need. People are writing us off already but there’s a lot of NRL experience here. If Wayne can get every player playing career-best footy there’s some special things we can do and I think that’s why he’s the guy.”

The Dolphins have been earmarked as an early wooden spoon contender but Nicholls rubbished the idea.

“There’s no expectation on us,” Nicholls said.

“There’s obviously some quality here. We just need to come together as a team.”

BENNETT’S SHOCK DOLPHINS RECRUITING ADMISSION

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett says it is unlikely the club bolsters its spine with “anybody that we want” before the fledgling NRL franchise begins its maiden campaign next season.

Bennett stayed quiet on the Dolphins’ pursuit of Parramatta playmaker Dylan Brown for 2024 but conceded the recruiting drive for the upcoming season had not been all smooth sailing.

His former Broncos pupil Anthony Milford is expected to partner Sean O’Sullivan at the scrumbase and though the coach has praised both in the past he put the playmaking pair on notice - there will be a leash.

“No one is guaranteed a position,” Bennett said.

“Obviously we brought Sean here because we believe he can be the halfback and we brought Milford here because we believe he can be the five-eighth but they have to prove to me that they’ve learnt that and they’ve got the ability to do that job and if they haven’t, well we’ll make another decision.”

Wayne Bennett addresses the media at Kayo Stadium. Picture: Steve Pohlner

The Dolphins have five list spots still to fill and Bennett said it was unlikely the spine received a big name boost before the season starts.

“I don’t think we’ll get anybody there that we want at the moment,” he said.

“We just want quality players and that’s what we’re looking for.”

One player they are in talks with is Tesi Niu – the Broncos fullback who has fallen down the pecking order at Red Hill and was recently given the green light to look elsewhere for opportunities.

A move to the Dolphins appears on the cards however Bennett won’t be sold until the Tongan international is on the training track at Redcliffe.

“No, I’m not confident he’ll be a Dolphin in 2023 until he signs a contract,” the coach said.

“There’s a number of other players out there we’re negotiating with and talking to (as well). No, I don’t (want to name them).

Tesi Niu. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty

Top Dolphins target Dylan Brown. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty

“I’m not into the politics of it all. (Niu) hasn’t signed a contract, he’s not here. We’re negotiating with him … we just have to be patient and see what happens.”

Fans turned out in droves to catch a glimpse of the Dolphins for their first open training session at Kayo Stadium on Wednesday.

Much of the squad has now reported for pre-season however a handful of players who were in action at the World Cup, including Milford, will not arrive until the New Year.

Even once he has the full squad at his disposal Bennett says he won’t know the Dolphins’ high watermark until they run out against the Roosters at Suncorp Stadium for Round 1.

“They haven’t played (a game). We could go to every club in the NRL right now and they would all be saying the same thing – it’s about how you play, so we won’t know (where we stand) until March,” he said.

Originally published as NRL Market Watch: How Wayne Bennett recruited Mark Nicholls with seven words