Bennett Steps Down As Broncos Coach

What I find weird about that is the 'speaker' in 'Guest speaker'.

The man hardly ever opens his mouth. Haha.
 
Wayne Bennett set to quit Broncos
Tim Arvier| Breaking News WWOS| 22:00 AEST Mon Feb 4 2008

The end of an era is at hand in rugby league, with Wayne Bennett set to announce his resignation from the Brisbane Broncos, Tuesday.

The 500 premiership game coach’s contract isn’t set to expire until the end of 2009, However sources within the club say he has decided to step down as coach at the end of the year.

It’s not known whether Bennett will consider coaching roles at any rival clubs.

The 58-year-old has coached the Broncos for 19 years since their inaugural season in 2008, and has led the club to six premierships: in 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2000, and 2006. He has also coached the Queensland Origin side during six campaigns, and Australia in Test series against the British and New Zealand.

Bennett has also received recognition outside of football, awarded Queensland Father of the Year, while also made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2004.
Click to expand...
 
AussieKnight said:
I just dont want the guy coming under any more stress and has a heart attack or anything I mean seriously.
Click to expand...

He seems to be coping OK...
 
bigdan said:
AussieKnight said:
I just dont want the guy coming under any more stress and has a heart attack or anything I mean seriously.
Click to expand...

He seems to be coping OK...
Click to expand...

He should try to avoid some of the struggling teams like St George or else he might end up having a stress-related heart-attack. :p
 
Untitled23 said:
bigdan said:
AussieKnight said:
I just dont want the guy coming under any more stress and has a heart attack or anything I mean seriously.
Click to expand...

He seems to be coping OK...
Click to expand...

He should try to avoid some of the struggling teams like St George or else he might end up having a stress-related heart-attack. :p
Click to expand...

From what I've read, he lives a pretty healthy lifestyle - doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, doesn't gamble...

But coaching the Dragons could lead one to doing all three.... :lol:
 
knight-no-7 said:
I have a feeling he will retire all together from coaching...
Click to expand...

At his age it wouldn't be a surprise. Or he might be forced into it if none of the other coaches are forced to back down.
 
Untitled23 said:
knight-no-7 said:
I have a feeling he will retire all together from coaching...
Click to expand...

At his age it wouldn't be a surprise. Or he might be forced into it if none of the other coaches are forced to back down.
Click to expand...

But there was also the suggestion he might go overseas, im sure some club in the UK would want him, if he decided to not retire all together.
 
knight-no-7 said:
Bennett just announced that he will be standing down as the BRONCOS coach at the end of 2008.
Click to expand...

I suppose it was only a matter of time before he'd do something like this. At least the club will have a year to find his replacement and do a through job.
 
Bennett tells players he's leaving
February 05, 2008

BRISBANE players say they are disappointed after foundation coach Wayne Bennett confirmed he will quit the club at the end of the 2008 NRL season.

Bennett told his players of his decision before training at the club's Red Hill headquarters, where a swarm of media gathered this morning.

The Broncos board “reluctantly†accepted Bennett's request for an early release from his contract, which was to have ended after the 2009 season.

Canberra coach Neil Henry is considered the early favourite to replace Bennett if a deal can be arranged to release him from the Raiders.

Whoever his successor is, he will have big boots to fill.

Bennett, 58, is entering his 21st season at the helm of the Broncos where he has guided them to six premierships - 1992, 1993, 1998, 2000, 2006 and the 1997 Super League title.

“Wayne told us this morning,†fullback Karmichael Hunt said.

Boom forward Dave Taylor was one to express disappointment.

“I'd be happier if he was staying at the club,†said Taylor, who recently extended his contract to the end of 2009.

The Brisbane board released a statement saying it had accepted Bennett's resignation and reasoning for wanting to leave after the coming season.

“Wayne has always told us he would know when the time was right for him to exit the club and he advised us last night that he believed that time was at the end of the 2008 season,†said Broncos chairman Darryl Somerville.

Bennett contacted Broncos CEO Bruno Cullen Monday and asked for a meeting where he revealed his decision.

Both Cullen and Somerville said Bennett had made a magnificent contribution to the club.

“Wayne has presided over not over only six grand final wins from six appearances but also numerous other honours including minor premierships, pre-season and mid-week competitions and World Club Championships,†said Cullen.

“But perhaps his greatest achievement was his leading role in building the club up from scratch to establish a very highly regarded sporting franchise, one that has few peers in the country.â€

AAP
Click to expand...
Statement:
"On December 10, 2007 I informed certain members of the Brisbane Broncos board of my intention to resign at the completion of season 2008. I was requested to take a cooling off period, which I agreed to. If my position had not changed by the end of January 2008 it was agreed that my intentions would be made public after the scheduled board meeting on Tuesday February 5.

Last night (Monday) I officially informed the board of my resignation.

My time has come - not as a coach but as the coach of the Broncos.

The Broncos have always believed it is better for a player to leave a year too early than a year too late. I have always believed there should be no exception, even for the coach.

I have had a wonderful career at the Broncos. In fact it has been an unbelievable experience.

Firstly, I would like to thank the players I have coached. Our organisation has been built on a culture of hard work, mateship and a never say die attitude in all that we do. Because of their attitude to these three principles they have been rewarded many times over. I have always felt supported by the players I was coaching and as a coach who can ask for more? I am deeply indebted to them.

The staff, I have had the privilege of working with were and are the best in their field. They have been outstanding and totally committed to the Broncos. They may not have received the accolades the players received but they helped to set the standard and work ethic that the current players enjoy.

To the original owners, Paul Morgan, Barry Maranta, Gary Balkin and Steve Williams, thank you for the belief and confidence you had in me. We shared the same ideals when it came to building the club, it was the hard way, but it was the only way the club was going to have long term success. Those establishing days were the best and I am so grateful to have been a part of them.

Finally to the fans, you have made my experiences something special. Your support has been at times more than I anticipated, but all the more worthwhile. I have received letters, pats on the back and encouragement, more than I thought was possible. Personally, the years 1992 and 2006 were the happiest the club has seen you all and I feel privileged to have shared them with you.

My intention is to continue to coach - either in the northern hemisphere or the southern hemisphere. My time has not come to an end as a coach.

I am currently not in negotiations with any other club. I am as committed to the Broncos as I have always been. I owe that not only to myself, but to the players, the staff and the fans.

At this time my intention is to not make any further comment regarding my future as we at the Broncos have a season in front of us and as always I want the focus to be on the team. My commitment is to the team and that has always been and will always be my first priority.

I ask that this wish is respected.â€

AAP
Click to expand...
 
Sad to hear, but at his age it was coming.

He's been a great coach, and great for the NRL. Congratulations on him for a great career. Hopefully he'll leave on high and take the Broncos to another top 8 finish.
 
knight-no-7 said:
19 years at one club... its about time.

I have a feeling he will retire all together from coaching...
Click to expand...

21 years this year. Will be interesting to see how the Broncos go ... Peter Louis and John Lang both announced their resignation a year early and both went hopeless from there on in!

It's be pretty lame if Neil Henry ditched the Raiders after two years to take over the Broncos.
 
Henry and Bellamy were ruled out by their clubs ( on the news). Langer has put up his hand for the Job.

Hope the Broncos have a good year, to send him off on a good notes. Been an awesome coach, with 6premierships at one club! Wish BS could do that!!
 
hes a legend and has done so much for the broncos
it was funny on the fan day and i got a photo with him and he smiled i was shocked id never seen that before
 
mozza said:
hes a legend and has done so much for the broncos
it was funny on the fan day and i got a photo with him and he smiled i was shocked id never seen that before
Click to expand...

Post your photos in the fan day thread man :)
 
Folkes given seven weeks
By Steve Mascord
February 07, 2008

BULLDOGS coach Steve Folkes has just seven weeks to prove himself worthy of a new contract, club chairman George Peponis has said.

As the fallout from Wayne Bennett's Brisbane resignation continued, Peponis put a time limit on the Folkes decision for the first time.

And it was also revealed Folkes would be asked to front the board over his future a fortnight into the season.
Click to expand...
Cleary in frame to replace Bennett
By Dan Koch
February 07, 2008

NEW Zealand Warriors coach Ivan Cleary has emerged as favourite to replace Broncos coach Wayne Bennett, who will stand down at the end of the season.

Former Penrith and Cronulla coach John Lang, who steered the Panthers to the 2003 NRL title, is another interim option, allowing the Broncos to set their sights on highly rated pair Craig Bellamy (Melbourne Storm) and Neil Henry (Canberra Raiders) for the 2010 season.

Other possibilities include Bennett's former star halves pairing Kevin Walters and Allan Langer, assistant Ivan Henjak and departing St Helens coach Daniel Anderson.

However, Cleary is said to be early favourite for the job. He is contracted to the Warriors until the end of this year with an option for 2009.

Having played with Manly, North Sydney, Sydney Roosters and the Warriors, where he was part of the 2002 grand final squad, Cleary took over from Tony Kemp as head coach of the Warriors in 2006.

After finishing 10th with a 12-12 win-loss record in his first season, the Warriors improved markedly last year, finishing the regular season in fourth place.

They were bundled out of the play-offs with successive losses to Parramatta and North Queensland.

As well as his impressive on-field results, Cleary has earned plaudits for his off-field demeanour, particularly during the salary cap crisis which saw the club docked four competition points in his first year at the club, costing it the chance of playing in the finals.

At 36, he is the second-youngest coach in the NRL, behind St George Illawarra's Nathan Brown.

Interestingly, he would be just a year younger than Bennett was when he started as coach of the Broncos in 1988.

Lang, who lives on the Gold Coast, was reluctant to comment on whether he would seek a role with Brisbane, though he said he was open to all offers.

"I don't really want to comment on the Broncos job, or any other job for that matter, and whether or not I am interested," Lang said.
Click to expand...
 
There's some speculation that Bennett will be moving to St Helensfor the 2009 season. Daniel Anderson is out of contract at the end of 2008 and I'm sure I read somewhere that he's going to NSW after Saints. I'm trying to find the story again.
 
Got it!!

St Helens play down Bennett talk

St Helens say they have no plans to contact Wayne Bennett about succeeding Daniel Anderson at the end of 2008. Anderson has already announced he will be leaving Knowsley Road when the season finishes, prompting speculation that Bennett could be set to take over. But Saints chief executive Tony Colquitt said they had only just started their search for a successor. Colquitt added: "As for Wayne Bennett, we haven't had any discussions with him and we have no plans to contact him." Bennett's name has been linked with the Super League giants following his decision to end what will be a 21-year association with Brisbane at the end of 2008. The former Australia coach, who has been earmarked for a role with New Zealand ahead of this year's World Cup, has dropped a heavy hint that he may move abroad for his next assignment.

"My intention is to continue to coach, either in the northern hemisphere or the southern hemisphere," said the 58-year-old. Anderson, meanwhile, flatly dismissed any prospect of a "swap" by insisting he intends to work in New South Wales on his return to Australia at the end of the year. Bennett masterminded six championship successes in his two decades in charge of the Broncos. He also coached the Queensland Origin side to several series wins and was in charge of Australia for 16 Tests between 1998 and 2005. Following the recent resignation of Gary Kemble, he is being tipped for a more active role with the Kiwis.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/rugby_league/super_league/st_helens/7228906.stm
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top