When Wayne Bennett arrived at the Newcastle Knights in late 2011, he wanted nothing to do with the accompanying hype. The Knights may have been installed as pre-season premiership favourites, and club owner Nathan Tinkler may have been spruiking that Bennett “will win four [titles]”, but the super coach had zero interest in fuelling the sense of anticipation that was escalating exponentially each day. After his first media conference in Newcastle, Bennett declared “I’m not a rock star, I’m a football coach” and proceeded to dead-bat every question tossed his way in textbook fashion.
“Realistically, a premiership may not be forthcoming in the near future ...
we just want to build something that will provide them with long-term success,” he grumbled. More League Three months later, Bennett’s worst fears were realised when Newcastle opened their new era with a golden-point loss to his former team, St George Illawarra, in front of a capacity home crowd. He would later admit, in hindsight, that his players were “as flat as tacks” and the 29,189-strong turnout, and sense of occasion, had “choked them”.
They proceeded to limp home in 12th position, a massive anti-climax for the Novocastrian faithful, given that under former coach Rick Stone the Knights had reached the finals 12 months earlier. But if 2012 proved that Bennett is a mere mortal and nothing in rugby league should be taken for granted, he didn’t have to wait long for redemption. One season lat.
