This bloke has forgotten more about getting success in NRL than some whole clubs can remember.
if you haven't watched it do yourself a favour and listen from the 4 minute mark when he is asked about the blowout scores this year and his comments about how some clubs are being run, he is spot on.
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Yep, not a fan of the man, but he's absolutely spot on. Mind you, Gus has been banging on about this for like forever. A lack of leadership at NRL level is part of the problem.
The Eels are elegant proof that what Bennett is saying is 100% true.
I thought exactly that after reading his comments yesterday.
I'm sure any Eels supporter would agree (apart from a few members of the good old factions of course - I'm sure they're still adamant they can do better).
the NRL is so competitive you just can't run it poorly and expect grest redults
an even better example is the Broncos ... how to burn down a house in 3-5 years
I'm sorry, I don't buy it. I agree Bennett has a very astute footy brain. But he is also reknowned for throwing shade at the media. He certainly does not have a reputation for playing a straight bat with the media.
Some considerations:
1) Is Souths poorly run? Does that account for conceding 50+ to Storm and Penrith?
2) Are the Roosters poorly run? They have been beaten by 30+ three times and 40+ once.
3) Are the Eels poorly run? They were beaten 38-20 by Bunnies with a full complement
4) Did Manly swap from poorly to well run in Round 6? Before that, they conceded 150+ and scored about 25. After, almost undefeated.
Sorry, when the basic hypothesis - blowout scores are due to poor Club management - is so riddled with exceptions, AND we grant Bennett is a very smart cookie, THEN it's likely Bennett was massively over-simplifying and probably throwing shade no-one had figured out yet. But an obvious suggestion is that Bennett regularly gets the media to talk about what Bennett wants them to talk about, and Bennett certainly does not want much attention on features of the new rules that disproportionately benefit some teams over others.
Interesting comment from Bennett --"If you work in a toxic environment you will not get the best out of your staff" {words to that effect spot on. " Don,t blame the players" Their performances may have a lot to do with the culture and unfortunately are wrongly targeted. I would imagine there are survivors who handle that type of pressure better than others.
I think it is important to have a no holds barred professional independent honest review of the whole organization of a club regularly to stop any rot from starting to settle into a management dynasty to keep the bastards honest
Yep ... spot on Professor. He figured out long ago how to manipulate the media. He gives the media a new storyline and off they go. Have to wonder what he's up to. Maybe looking to recruit from some of the clubs getting pumped each week.
Or just a shot at the Broncos board.
I agree Daz. Although the front office can have an affect, manly and the Rabbitohs fluctuating form can't be attributed to the front office. Injuries have proven top teams are only a couple injuries away from a big loss.
What isn't mentioned is talent sharing and equal opportunity for each club. Name a big name player who signed with Canberra recently who don't get any free to air exposure. Canberra sux as well but there are plenty of country kids who like a slower lifestyle that Canberra would suit. Exposure brings sponsors brings better facilities and better players. Young players have massive egos and want attention from the media that brings extra sponsorship (TPA) and also increases future contracts. Managers know playing for the Raiders rarely lifts a players profile or contract value.
Bad cap management is an issue but when clubs are struggling they need to do something to turn it around and need to pay overs for every player they are chasing. Otherwise they go for youth and no experience which is a massive risk as well.
Name a melb player who isn't a rep player. Look at the massive difference in rosters and reports that players take massive unders.
It was reported latrell took 400k a year less to stay at the rabbits if he went to the tigers he would then attract other quality players and tigers wouldn't be where they are now. Quality players can turn around a club.
Look at Parra. We got Watmough and although he didn't do much for us, he helped attract Foran, and once again although he didn't do much was the catalyst to attract other better quality players like Jennings, Nathan Brown, Fergo and Moses who saw Parra as a club on the up. (Sorry if incorrect timeline of players but watmough was definitely a catalyst and provided Parra a new direction. Instead of big signings like Sandow or poore who were massive flops. The secret isn't to recruit the best player when your going poorly. It is to attract a player who will attract others and is a leader off the field. That may even include getting a foot in the door with a manager who has a strong stable of players.
Bennett is the most qualified person in the world to have an opinion on this. That was a genuine insight to his thoughts . I don't think he was excluding Souffs from his assessment either .