With the perennial coaching merry-go-round now in full swing, with the free-falling Souths and Eels head coaches at the centre of the storm, this time. In an interview today, Bennett has poured icy cold water on the Eels' idea when questioned by reporters on his future amidst the Souths' saga.
On the Eels, he was far from his often cryptic, cards-close-to-the-chest self.
“Not even nearly (have I considered the Eels)", he noted point blank.
"I haven’t even walked past the ground (to consider the Eels)."
“I have got a fair idea about what I have done in my life. You need to go and read another book and see what that one says because Wayne Bennett has never been near the Eels in his coaching career."
“I loved Jack Gibson and Ron Massey (former Eels coaches). They were big influences on my life and my coaching life but that doesn’t mean that is going to get me to the Eels.”
That would suggest the Eels are probably as far from anywhere contenders to secure Bennett beyond this year as you can get even if they threw the kitchen sink at him.
So, Eels' fans, or the likes of Paul Kent and co who put Bennett up as a replacement for Arthur, might end up disappointed once again.
On Souths
He kept it simple " I just like their brand. I like them. I've worked with them. I have a good relationship with everybody there. It's an iconic club. I just like the vibe there."
You'd think that sounds far more promising.
“I am here (Dolphins) until the end of the season and I have made no decisions about going anywhere or doing anything so we will wait and see.
“I’ll see what I want to do and what’s happening in my life. I could still be here next year. Who knows?”
“Everyone is having an opinion on it. My opinion is the one that matters but I’m not sharing it with anyone, so keep guessing guys."
"Don’t try and predict the future. That’s the only tip I’m giving you."
It's hard to predict his next move. He may stay in Queensland. He may take on a new franchise. But, either way, the world's his oyster and it seems the Eels aren't in the mix. Or it the mater media puppeteer diverting the media away from the possibility of an Eels' gig?
There's much to love about how Bennett deals with the media.
And this is classic Bennett. A Shakespearean-Greek tragedy rolled into a cat-and-mouse cliffhanger that leaves the audience in suspense. Sublime theatre.
On the Souths saga, he backed Demetriou's coaching ability.
“I know Jason is a good coach and something has gone amiss. That is their problem and they will have to sort it out,” he said.
“I have no idea what is going on at Souths so I don’t really want to make any comment on something I don’t know anything about."
He also had his thoughts on Demetriou, and head coaches in general, being the scapegoats.
“The coach takes all of the responsibility and the club takes none."
"That is the tragedy of all this stuff."
“That is the job we take on."
"We know that is our life and we also know it can go pear-shaped very quickly and that is what has happened there (with Souths).”
You would be tempted to think Hasler might be next in the firing line shortly over the next 24 months if the Titans don't start performing.
Although the Eels are rightfully due for criticism across the board from top to toe for their club being in free-fall on-field and the cultural and recruitment reasons behind that, Bennett's wisdom also sheds light on the one positive with the Eels' board. They have displayed rare patience than probably any other club would have to stick with Arthur. However, it doesn't take away from the fact that collectively there is some responsibility to be taken from head to toe in the club.
Sources: All quotes above are taken from a Foxsport interview.
Replies
When Bennett pours cold water on something you know he's considering it
Bro, that icy water means we've signed him.
🤣🤣🤣
Haha, love the thoughts, Michael and Kurupt.
I'm hoping you gents are right and we throw the kitchen sink at him. I suspect we won't get him though.
I'll be over the moon if we do, even though it's likely to be short-term and we might be left with similar cultural issues after he goes.
Oh exactly. He didn't say he didn't want it, he basically said he hasn't spoken to anybody at the club. I take that as respect for Brad Arthur, who as we know has the job with nothing from the club to indicate otherwise.
Without a doubt if we were coachless, he would be interested. It would be a great challenge for him.
100%
I don't read too much into that. Pretty sure one gig he was organising in complete secrecy he pulled out of once it got to the media. Was that the first attempt to get him to Souths?
Bennett hates the media, so they will be the last ones to know what he is up to. Any negotiation with him has to be done professionally and in complete confidence.
Yep, BringBackSemi, agree. And that's exactly the way it should be.
It was interesting how he made such a clear and direct point about the Eels, but was coy about other items. Love how he handles the media.
It'll be interesting to see where he does land. I still put the Eels at long odds, but you never know.
No he had a verbal agreement with the Roosters but didn't want to distract from the team he was coaching so he said if this gets to the media deals off. Guess what it got to the media and he pulled the pin
Lol it said nothing about his intent more so he's never been involved with the club, never said he wouldn't be.
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