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Good point about Bennett, Coryn.

Maybe it’s less about his magic dust and more about being real and human. I suspect part of it comes down to accepting players for who they are rather than expecting them to fit a mould.

Trust and belief, no matter what.

Bennett’s famous quip “I’m going to sleep. Just don’t end up in jail before I wake up” is telling. There’s trust. Not blind trust, but trust nonetheless.

Every coach will tell you how critical belief is. It’s not just a Bennett thing. Shane Flanagan and Ben Gardiner have both spoken recently about the importance of players believing in themselves and their teammates. But belief isn’t just something you talk about. It’s something you show.

When Matt Cameron told Terrell May how he needed to be, May walked away from a three-year deal Ivan Cleary had essentially lined up. Whether right or wrong, May didn’t feel accepted for who he was. He walked away from the Panthers that he dreamed about and off to the Roosters.

Look at Dylan Brown. After the Souths game, he said he simply wanted to repay the faith Trent Holbrook had shown in him. And it’s showing in his performances. They haven’t all been spectacular highlight reels, but he’s doing the basics really well and doing them consistently.

Of course, it doesn’t always work. Josh Schuster. Bennett leaves it up to the players.

Other players need structure, accountability and hard truths in addition to feeling loved.

Kane Evans seemed to drift further and further from himself after leaving the Roosters. First at Parramatta, largely for money. Then things got worse at the Warriors and worse again in England. Yet look at what it meant to him when Trent Robinson told him the Roosters would always be his home and even helped him when he was struggling. Evans broke down on camera talking about it years later.

We all understand the importance of belief and trust. But sometimes fans spend so much time talking about what players should be and how good or crap they are that we forget they’re flawed human beings, still finding their way through the early stages of life.

Maybe that’s Bennett’s real gift. Not some mystical ability to motivate players, but an ability to make them feel accepted, trusted and valued. For some people, that can be the difference between thriving and drifting away.

"Well i wonder too how precious we actually are with the money and years. Could we be that in grained of bringing along the future stars that we only offer big names 2-3 years instead of 4-5 that could get them over? What I was told on KK, which I…"

"Burton i think is suffering from having no genuine halfback taking charge. You put Burton in any other team with a genuine halfback and let him play 5/8 or centre instead of having to double as a makeshift 7 and i think you may see a more settled…"

Replies

- - - - Hell On Eels > Coryn Hughes June 11, 2026 at 1:49pm
        
        Good point about Bennett, Coryn.
        
        Maybe it’s less about his magic dust and more about being real and human. I suspect part of it comes down to accepting players for who they are rather than expecting them to fit a mould.
        
        Trust and belief, no matter what.
        
        Bennett’s famous quip “I’m going to sleep. Just don’t end up in jail before I wake up” is telling. There’s trust. Not blind trust, but trust nonetheless.
        
        Every coach will tell you how critical belief is. It’s not just a Bennett thing. Shane Flanagan and Ben Gardiner have both spoken recently about the importance of players believing in themselves and their teammates. But belief isn’t just something you talk about. It’s something you show.
        
        When Matt Cameron told Terrell May how he needed to be, May walked away from a three-year deal Ivan Cleary had essentially lined up. Whether right or wrong, May didn’t feel accepted for who he was. He walked away from the Panthers that he dreamed about and off to the Roosters.
        
        Look at Dylan Brown. After the Souths game, he said he simply wanted to repay the faith Trent Holbrook had shown in him. And it’s showing in his performances. They haven’t all been spectacular highlight reels, but he’s doing the basics really well and doing them consistently.
        
        Of course, it doesn’t always work. Josh Schuster. Bennett leaves it up to the players.
        
        Other players need structure, accountability and hard truths in addition to feeling loved.
        
        Kane Evans seemed to drift further and further from himself after leaving the Roosters. First at Parramatta, largely for money. Then things got worse at the Warriors and worse again in England. Yet look at what it meant to him when Trent Robinson told him the Roosters would always be his home and even helped him when he was struggling. Evans broke down on camera talking about it years later.
        
        We all understand the importance of belief and trust. But sometimes fans spend so much time talking about what players should be and how good or crap they are that we forget they’re flawed human beings, still finding their way through the early stages of life.
        
        Maybe that’s Bennett’s real gift. Not some mystical ability to motivate players, but an ability to make them feel accepted, trusted and valued. For some people, that can be the difference between thriving and drifting away.
        
        Coryn Hughes > Hell On Eels June 11, 2026 at 6:20pm
        
        The only thing I could come up with is he isn't bothered what or where a player is in there career.Concentrates on what they add as they are currently doesn't listen to the outside noise and players seemingly repay the favour.
Mallee57 June 10, 2026 at 12:19pm

Can't honestly see any of these wearing an Eels jersey
- Perpetual Motion > Mallee57 June 10, 2026 at 12:29pm
  
  If u believe the rumours we are close to signing Milky but the rest are pure speculation.
  - Mallee57 > Perpetual Motion June 10, 2026 at 1:25pm
    
    Most rumours don't amount too much the majority of the time. But with Eels recruitment in such great shape you just never know
- Poppa > Mallee57 June 10, 2026 at 12:30pm
  
  Cannot honestly see Mallee.....fair enough, I would lend you my seeing eye dog but he would be too smart for you!
  - Mallee57 > Poppa June 10, 2026 at 1:27pm
    
    Ah yes the ever reliable but not always punctual the 'Old Fella Comment Monitor' Surely you have much better things to do like 'denture cleaning' or 'Senior Cits bingo' 😂
    - Poppa > Mallee57 June 10, 2026 at 1:39pm
      
      Leave my "old Fella" out of this you pervert Mallee.
      
      PS I don't have dentures and I don't play Bingo......Apart from that I am going ok......
      - Mallee57 > Poppa June 10, 2026 at 2:38pm
        
        You're correct 'Old Fart' is much more suited and probably why the 'Senior Cits' asked you leave the Bingo and probably Lawn Bowls 😂
        
        Vasily Arkhipov > Mallee57 June 10, 2026 at 10:49pm
        
        I will be working some more on the shed tomorrow.