STAND by for another round of Bennett bashing in the Australian media.
It has become a favourite pastime in recent years.
That’s all despite the fact that it is like water off a duck’s back when it comes to Wayne Bennett himself.
He learned early in his senior career to ignore the barbs of the Rugby League reporters.
When he was a player the Sydney journalists reckoned he only got the chance to wear the green and gold – on the short 1972 tour of New Zealand – because the ARL wanted a few token Queenslanders to make up the numbers.
Then, when he became the first coach of the Brisbane Broncos, there was a concerted attempt in the Brisbane media to have him sacked because he did not achieve immediate success.
Luckily, the owners of the Broncos were looking at the long-term advantages of having Bennett at the helm.
And Bennett steered the club to six Premierships.
Then the Sydney clique unsheathed the knives because he dared to question the Rugby League knowledge of one of their reporters.
It continues to this day.
There were two instances this weekend.
In the Sydney Sunday Telegraph’s controversial columnist Phil Rothfield had a snippet headlined ‘Bennett has dim view of world’.
Rothfield noted: “With their rugby union team making headlines in Australia and their soccer team playing in Euro 2016, the British media have had a little space for rugby league in recent weeks.
“That could have changed last week when Broncos coach Wayne Bennett was in town to catch up preparations for the World Cup in his new role as England coach.
“No, he insisted on a media ban.
“A great promotion for international rugby league.”
Twenty fours earlier the Sydney Saturday Telegraphy dragged the England Test prop James Graham into the furore.
The newspaper grabbed an innocent enough quote from the fiery prop and turned it into an anti-Bennett headline: “Is Wayne the man for us. Graham unsure whether Benny can deliver glory.”
The story explained: “Wayne Bennett has been hailed England’s savior, but British bulldog James Graham believes the jury is still out on whether the super coach is the man to transform the nation’s fortunes.
“Graham admitted question marks remained over the master mentor’s ability to lead the English to international glory.”
The newspaper went on to quote Graham “I guess time will tell.
“I think Steve McNamara has very much laid the foundations for us.
“Obviously we are in a position where Wayne has become available and the powers-that-be have decided that he is the man to take us forward.
“But we come up against some quality opposition on the international scene, so it is a very difficult job.”
Graham went on to explain how he and the other NRL-based hopefuls caught up with the Bennett during the representative round weekend in May.
The Canterbury skipper said it was an invaluable chance to commence preparations for the Four Nations in October.
“We just got together, had some food and spoke about a few things regarding the whole England setup.” Graham told the Telegraph.
“Wayne was keen to find out the things we do well, not do well and just give us a bit of a general outline of what we are going to be doing from late October.
“The only downside is that we have to wait so long to get to together properly as an international group.
“It’s just the way it is set up.
“Without getting too far ahead I think England has a really good chance to possibly see some success on the back of the 2-1 Test series victory over New Zealand.
“I’m really excited to work under him in this year’s Four Nations … all being well for me playing myself into the team.”
There is no doubt about that.
Graham has been arguably Canterbury’s best player all year and turned in an inspirational disply when the bulldogs flogged Benny’s Broncos 40-14 on Saturday night.
The England Test prop made 220 metres in powerful runs as well as smashing Brisbane players in 35 tackles.
It would have been the only thing that could have satisfied Bennett in the two-thirds empty former Olympic Stadium.
Expatriate Rugby League fans in Australia are already expressing the opinion that with Bennett holding the reins this could very well be the year that England break the drought against the powerful Australians … despite the jaundiced view of the media Down Under.
Contact malcolma@ozzemail.com.au
