Wayne Bennett (rugby league coach)
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Wayne Bennett (born January 1 1950) is famous for coaching the Brisbane Broncos, the Queensland State of Origin team and The Kangaroos Australia's national rugby league team.
He grew up in a working class family in Warwick, Queensland with an alcoholic father who deserted the family when he was eight years old, forcing Wayne to enter the workforce at an early age.
Bennett was appointed of co-coach of the Canberra Raiders in 1987, guiding the side to the grand final which the team lost to Manly18-8. He was appointed as coach of the Brisbane Broncos in 1988 and has coached the team to five premierships in 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998 and 2000.
He has also coached Queensland in the State of Origin leading them to four series victories and a series draw. He stepped down as coach of Queensland in 2003 being replaced by Michael Hagan, coach of the Newcastle Knights who had served as his Assistant Coach at State of Origin level.
Wayne Bennett was reappointed as coach of the Kangaroos on February 23 2004 having previously served as coach in 1988 when he stepped in to replace Bob Fulton whose wife was ill. He was undefeated in two test matches against New Zealand.
As Australian coach, he will be responsible for training the team for a match against New Zealand on April 23 2004 at Energy Australia Stadium in Newcastle and a Tri-Nations series in the United Kingdom
On January 26 2004, he was made a Member (AM) in the General Division award in the 2004 Australia Day Honours list.Bennett received his award for service to Rugby League football, particularly as a coach, and to the community.
He is married to Trish Bennett and won a Queensland Father of the Year award for helping to raise two of his children with disabilities. He appeared on Australian Story on ABC TV to tell the story about his family life which was one of the most popular programs in the history of that show.
With journalist Steve Crawley he wrote Don't Die with the Music in You which has become one of the best selling books about rugby league in Australia's history (ISBN 0733311075 - ABC Books Australia)
Quotations
If you want to be mentally tough, do as Wayne Bennett says: follow your beliefs and don't give in to yourself. Steve Waugh
Wayne is a man whose success is built on loyalty, discipline and an innate recognition of individual worth. Lachlan Murdoch
Will I miss him? I miss coaching against them all. I will say that it is a shame that Wayne won't be there. With all due respect to Michael Hagan, Wayne Bennett and Queensland go hand in hand.
I enjoy coaching against quality coaches, and Wayne Bennett is that. I have really enjoyed coaching against Wayne for the last two years. Phil Gould (rugby league coach), New South Wales State of Origin coach
External links
- Brisbane Broncos (http://www.broncos.com.au/)
- National Rugby League (http://www.nrl.com.au/)