A big part of the genius of SuperCoach Wayne Bennett is his simplicity.
While plenty of head coaches tie themselves into a tightly-wound ball ready to combust most days rugby league’s very own Clint Eastwood prefers a far more relaxed approach.
Which brings us to the job Bennett is currently doing with the Dolphins – and also South Sydney.
Yep, the SuperCoach could become the first coach since 1908 to be coaching two clubs at the same time.
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And before the narcs all jump out of their gear about how can Bennett possibly be invested in two NRL clubs the proof is in the results.
Even though he’s yet to set foot in the Rabbitohs Heffron Park headquarters it’s impossible to ignore the way South Sydney have completely flipped the script since Bennett was announced as the club’s new coach for 2025.
As much as Wayne’s not officially coaching South Sydney he’s been working the phones talking to players and interim head coach Ben Hornby at length.
The best examples of this are the form of Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker, Jack Wighton and Damien Cook – it’s like these three are completely different players.
It’s incredible to think Cook was axed to NSW Cup only a couple of months ago.
Or what about Keaon Kolomatangi and Davvy Moale. They’ve gone from hardly being sighted to two of the best middle forwards in the competition.
Kolomatangi in particular has been enormous since he’s moved from playing on the edges to playing in the middle.
Since Bennett’s signature was made official the Rabbitohs have won three straight games – prior to his appointment they were one from 10.
Don’t forget, Hornby was the captain when Bennett and the Dragons smashed a 31-season title drought in 2010.
It’s a similar story of success at the Dolphins where the club is punching well above its weight at the halfway point of the season.
Currently sitting 4th on the NRL ladder leading into round 16 it’s a remarkable effort from one of the greatest coaches the game will ever see.
Against Cronulla last week Bennett’s starting front rowers were Felise Kaufusi and Kenny Bromwich – both of whom have spent the majority of their careers playing in the backrow.
On the flip side the Sharks had a front row rotation containing Toby Rudolf, Oregon Kaufusi, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Royce Hunt and cult figure Tommy Hazleton.
There’s no way the Dolphins should have been winning this game.
But like all Bennett sides they were disciplined, made only two errors and had a completion rate in excess of 90 per cent.
Then it’s over to the players to dictate the result.
Enter the Hammer Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow’s flash of genius, speed and finesse to score one of the tries of the season to set the Dolphins on course for the upset result.
On Friday night the Dolphins host the Melbourne Storm in what’s guaranteed to be one of the grudge matches of the year.
Bennett and Storm coach Craig Bellamy are two of the best in the business but it’s no secret the one-time master and apprentice have been off for many years.
Of the 40 NRL games they’ve coached against each other dating back to 2003, Bellamy has won 30 to Bennett’s 10.
You won’t catch Clint Eastwood flinching or talking about it but you can guarantee Friday night’s game means more than just two competition points.
COULD RIVALS DO BUSINESS AMID SMITH RUMOURS?
They’ve been sworn enemies since 1908 but could the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney be about to do business in terms of one of the biggest player swaps of next season – Kiwi Test star Brandon Smith.
Stay with us here.
The Damien Cook move to St George Illawarra for next season is a win-win for the Dragons and also South Sydney.
The Dragons gain one of the most well-respected players in the game who brings leadership and experience while the Bunnies free-up $500,000 in salary cap room.
Factor in Lachlan Ilias’s impeding departure from South Sydney and all of a sudden the Rabbitohs could have close to $1 million to spend.
Which is where the Sydney Roosters hooker Smith could find himself switching to the arch-nemesis club.
Take it as fact Smith is heavily on the outer at the Roosters and the arrival of a coach like Bennett at South Sydney could be right in the Kiwi Test star’s sweet spot.
For a variety of reasons it hasn’t worked for Smith at the Chooks but there is still no question at his best the New Zealand forward is a game-breaker.
With the Roosters possibly prepared to chip in up to $400,000 of Smith’s $900,000 contract next season it’s not as crazy as it sounds.
Or would the Chooks position change if it meant Smith was interested in going to the arch-enemy?
Bennett is a genius at getting the best out of a player with a point to prove.
The other players who are on South Sydney’s radar at the moment include Dragons enforcer Jack de Belin and Cronulla prop Royce Hunt.
There’s no way the Bunnies are going to sign all of them but the Smith possible switch is a live chance.
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WHAT’S HAPPENING AT PARRA?
The Parramatta Eels worldwide, no-stone-unturned search for a new head coach has rapidly taken on the theme of the hit 1980s film The NeverEnding Story.
It’s exactly one month today since Brad Arthur was sacked the day before his 50th birthday.
So where has the Eels brains trust searching high and low for the perfect selection across the rugby league landscape here and overseas taken them?
First, there was a subcommittee formed. The banker (Chairman Sean McElduff), the bean counter (CEO Jim Sarantinos) and Buckets (General Manager of Football Mark O’Neill) were all appointed to the Eels subcommittee.
Forgive our ignorance but we all know these three were the main decision-makers at Parramatta anyway.
Next up, the first round of interviews. Come on down Jason Ryles, Josh Hannay, Jason Demetriou, Michael Cheika, Brian McDermott and Trent Barrett.
Drum roll. Now, the envelope please. A month later and we’re now preparing for the second round of interviews.
The short list now is Hannay, Ryles and interim coach Barrett.
Fair dinkum. You can’t make this stuff up. Can someone please tell the banker and the bean counter it’s a jungle out there in rugby league – not the Westpac Bank or Ferrier Hodgson.
To borrow one of Kerry Packer’s best lines leaders have got two jobs. Make decisions and make decisions.
Agility and an ability to see around corners are critical.
All the while Eels fans wait in the dark for the new coach who is hopefully going to take the club closer to ending a premiership drought dating back to 1986.
With the banker and the bean counter in charge the concern is Parramatta look like they’re driving blindfolded on a road to nowhere.
STADIUM PLANS
The Wests Tigers look like they’re going to be playing up to four games a year at CommBank Stadium from next season.
That’s judging by the proposal CEO Shane Richardson put to the board earlier this week.
The pitch for Wests Tigers home games next season was four games at CommBank, four games at Campbelltown, three games at Leichhardt Oval and one game at Suncorp Stadium for Magic Round.
As for our colleague Brent Read’s assertion giving Leichhardt Oval $40 million is like putting lipstick on a pig – it’s time for Ready to get down to OPSM and get a new set of glasses.
Clearly someone has stolen his bifocals so he’s legally blind and can’t see what it means to the thousands of Wests Tigers members and fans who turn up at the Eighth Wonder of the World no matter what.
Tribalism and tradition are two of the best things about rugby league.
There’s nothing better than the old school charm of suburban football at Leichhardt Oval, Penrith, Shark Park, Brookvale Oval, Jubilee Oval, Redcliffe or Wollongong.
Lipstick on a pig is standing behind the glass of a corporate box where you can hear a pin drop and pretending you’re interested in the game.
Thank goodness Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo are huge supporters of suburban grounds.