Phil Rothfield: Anthony Griffin left Broncos in great shape for Wayne Bennett

WAYNE Bennett will get a lot of credit for steering the Broncos into the grand final, but one man can’t be overlooked for his role in the club’s revival.

Staff Dinkus - Phil Rothfield

WAYNE Bennett will get a lot of credit this week for steering the Broncos into the grand final as he chases his eight premiership victory.

It would be wrong to overlook the fact Anthony Griffin left the club in great shape.

Certainly in much better condition than the diabolical mess Bennett left the Knights in and finished up with the wooden spoon.

A bit like the salary cap dramas Bennett left behind at St George Illawarra that they still haven’t fully recovered from.

The great Jack Gibson used to say the sign of a great coach was someone who would leave a club in a better place than when he started.

BUZZ: Defence flaws an opportunity for Cows

Broncos coach Wayne Bennett.

CAREFUL WITH THAT JAB

It’s no secret Johnathan Thurston has been carrying a groin injury for the back end of the season.

Like many players at this stage of the year, he requires pain killing injections to get onto the field each week.

It makes you think back to possibly the last superstar player in this position going into a grand final.

Remember Graeme ‘Changa’ Langlands, white boots and the 1975 grand final.

A pre-game injection that was supposed to deaden the groin injury pain hit a nerve and left his leg numb. Changa had a shocker and the Roosters won the grand final 38-nil.

We’re sure the Cowboys medical staff won’t make the same mistake.

GREEN SUPPORT TEAM ALL CLASS

One of the real reasons behind the Cowboys’ phenomenal success this year is the experience of the coaching staff. They actually have three first grade NRL coaches.

Paul Green gets enormous support from having John Cartwright and Dave Furner as his assistants.

Both have not just coached at the Titans and the Raiders but they have also played for Australia.

What other coaches can call on that sort of experience and expertise?

They say one of the strengths of Green’s coaching is the fact he delegates and is not a control freak.

It’s a lesson other young coaches like Jason Taylor at the Wests Tigers could learn from.

HIGHLIGHT

Johnathan Thurston’s performance against Melbourne Storm. I know it’s a big statement but I’m starting to think he’s now a better player even team-of-the-century half-back Andrew Johns.

LOWLIGHT

No Sydney teams in the grand final and being forced to concede Queensland is now home to the top two rugby league clubs in the country.

XXXX APPEAL

Sydney racing will be looking after the huge influx of cane toads this weekend. Anyone who can produce a Queensland driver’s licence will get a free XXXX at Randwick races.

BIZARRE BARRETT

New Manly coach Trent Barrett is making some bizarre recruitment decisions. Why would you sign old Tim Moltzen from the Wests Tigers but release the outstanding young Clint Gutherson to the Parramatta Eels. It’s crazy.

BLOG WITH BUZZ: Check out what Phil Rothfield had to say in his blog below

PUNCH DRUNK

…. And the winner of the Dally M Dunce-of-the-Year is Melbourne Storm winger Marika Koroibete. To forget the sin bin punching rule after 26 rounds and three weeks of finals is plain stupidity.

SHOOSH

There was talk among the Melbourne Storm coaching staff of Billy Slater making a shock comeback if the team had made the grand final. True story.

BEST FRIEND

The biggest success story at the Sydney Roosters this year has been the leadership and captaincy of hooker Jake Friend. He made an unbelievable 66 tackles against the Broncos on Friday night.

REALITY SHECK

Joey Johns put the mock on Roger Tuivasa-Sheck when he described the Roosters fullback recently on Channel Nine as potentially the best Kiwi player ever. It’s a lot of weight to carry and the great RTS was below his best against Storm and the Broncos.

Originally published as Phil Rothfield: Anthony Griffin left Broncos in great shape for Wayne Bennett