The NRL has announced Wayne Bennett and Jack Gibson as the first ever coaches to be inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame.
The legendary coaches will join administrators Ken Arthurson and John Quayle, as well as broadcast legends Frank Hyde and David Morrow, as this year’s inductees into the NRL Hall of Fame.
Both Bennett and Gibson become the first head coaches to be inducted into the prestigious club, with ARLC chairman Peter V’Landys stating: “It is an historic moment for the game to recognise for the first time the extraordinary contribution of two legendary coaches, Jack Gibson and Wayne Bennett.”
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Bennett, currently the head coach of the Dolphins, is the longest-serving coach in rugby league history, with more than 37 years experience under his belt. During that time, he’s won seven premierships, six with the Brisbane Broncos and one with the Dragons.
Gorden Tallis said on NRL 360 that Bennett’s “record speaks for itself” and admitted his success has taken him by surprise.
“I thought he’d be retired by now sitting in Cuba,” Tallis laughed.
“It’s surprising because I said years ago ‘what has a young 20-year-old (player) got in common with a 70-year-old?’ But Wayne seems to still have that magic dust and get it out of them.”
Veteran journalist Paul Crawley marvelled over
“I think it’s incredible in not just his success but also his longevity,” he said.
“He actually started coaching in 1973. He did a decade in the old Brisbane competition before he went to Canberra.
“Here he is, he turns 75 on New Years Day and he’s just signed a three-year deal to go back to South Sydney where he’ll be 78 (when it ends).
“He’s stayed at the top the whole time. It’s just astonishing.”
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Gibson boasts a similarly impressive resume to Bennett, having won five premierships across a 20-year career.
“Jack was just such an icon of the game. I remember being a kid and (seeing) his fur coat. Just his presence around the game,” Tallis said.
“I had dinner with him (Gibson) a couple of times. I said ‘Jack do you have any advice?’ He never said much, but he said ‘make your first play your best’.
“I tried to get him to elaborate but he just shut up for the rest of the dinner.”
V’Landys praised the pair for their achievements and contribution to the game, with ability to manage players mentioned as one of their greatest strengths.
“Wayne is the ultimate people manager. He has the rare ability to get the best of a player, no matter their background,” V’Landys said.
“Players who come from hard times or players who have everything, Wayne takes them to another level.
“Jack was just the first super coach. He took calculated risks that always seemed to pay off.
“Jack was innovative and futuristic and was ahead of his time. His one-liners were legendary.”
V’Landys described legendary broadcaster Morrow, who recently passed away, as “one of the great voices of the game” and a “champion in every sense of the word.”
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He shared that Hyde, the other broadcast inductee to the Hall of Fame was “a pioneer in rugby league broadcasting,” before noting “it is fitting Quayle and Ken Arthurson are recognised together.”
“They were a great team and navigated the game through an important time in the game’s history,” V’Landy said in reference to the pair’s involvement in the infamous Super League war.
“On behalf of the Australian Rugby League Commission and the Hall of Fame Committee, I congratulate all of the inductees and their families on this special honour,” V’Landys said.
The formal inductions to the Hall of Fame will be made in a special ceremony on Wednesday, August 21.
Source Agencies
