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Departing St George Illawarra Dragons Head Coach Wayne Bennett has been crowned rugby league’s “Greatest Coach” by Men of League on Tuesday.
The announcement came during the Men of League Foundation’s 10th Annual Gala Dinner at Doltone House, Pyrmont.
Bennett’s recent achievements with the Dragons and an amazing seven titles in the modern era were seen by the judging panel as enough to see him slightly surpass Team of the Century Coach and fellow Dragons coaching alumni, the late Jack Gibson, in the final ratings.
Working from a final list of 11 nominations agreed to by a preliminary expert panel, the judges were in agreement that this was one of the toughest-possible challenges the game could throw up.
At issue was the task of somehow reducing to five the distinguished honour roll of men who had most contributed to the art and science of coaching football players and teams to rise to extraordinary deeds.
The guidelines were straightforward – consideration based on achievement in (Sydney-based) premiership football from 1908 (NSWRL) all the way through to the NRL years, and the further element of coaching deeds in the territory above and beyond – interstate and international football.
The judging panel finally came to agreement on the 5 Greatest Coaches in rugby league as;
1. Wayne Bennett
(Canberra, Brisbane, St George-Illawarra, Queensland, Australia)
2. – Jack Gibson
(Eastern Suburbs, St George, Newtown, South Sydney, Parramatta, Cronulla, NSW)
3. – Bob Fulton
(Eastern Suburbs, Manly, Australia)
4. – Phil Gould
(Canterbury, Penrith, Sydney City, NSW)
5. – Harry Bath
(Balmain, Newtown, St George, NSW, Australia)
The announcement came during the Men of League Foundation’s 10th Annual Gala Dinner at Doltone House, Pyrmont.
Bennett’s recent achievements with the Dragons and an amazing seven titles in the modern era were seen by the judging panel as enough to see him slightly surpass Team of the Century Coach and fellow Dragons coaching alumni, the late Jack Gibson, in the final ratings.
Working from a final list of 11 nominations agreed to by a preliminary expert panel, the judges were in agreement that this was one of the toughest-possible challenges the game could throw up.
At issue was the task of somehow reducing to five the distinguished honour roll of men who had most contributed to the art and science of coaching football players and teams to rise to extraordinary deeds.
The guidelines were straightforward – consideration based on achievement in (Sydney-based) premiership football from 1908 (NSWRL) all the way through to the NRL years, and the further element of coaching deeds in the territory above and beyond – interstate and international football.
The judging panel finally came to agreement on the 5 Greatest Coaches in rugby league as;
1. Wayne Bennett
(Canberra, Brisbane, St George-Illawarra, Queensland, Australia)
2. – Jack Gibson
(Eastern Suburbs, St George, Newtown, South Sydney, Parramatta, Cronulla, NSW)
3. – Bob Fulton
(Eastern Suburbs, Manly, Australia)
4. – Phil Gould
(Canterbury, Penrith, Sydney City, NSW)
5. – Harry Bath
(Balmain, Newtown, St George, NSW, Australia)
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