Brissy Bulldog
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Bennett a guru? Not in our league, says Stuart
December 19, 2005
NEW Australian rugby league coach Ricky Stuart has finally responded to stinging comments Wayne Bennett made about his coaching, suggesting his predecessor's guru-like status in the sport was a myth.
The outgoing Australian coach last week rang a Brisbane radio station to respond to suggestions that Stuart would curb player drinking more effectively than Bennett had on the recent Tri-Nations tour.
"It comes to be expected," Stuart told Sydney radio station 2KY yesterday when asked about Bennett's comments. "You look at a lot of the points that he brought up and a lot of them were incorrect. He said we [NSW] had four people in security looking after the players [during the State of Origin series]. I had a couple of assistant managers looking after the players in regards to security, and they weren't security people.
"There were other comments he made that were incorrect but I just let it fly."
Stuart and his club, the Sydney Roosters, last week refused to comment on Bennett's outburst. "He's going through enough as it is, he didn't need me jumping onto a bandwagon and discrediting him," Stuart said yesterday.
"It's a matter of him, I think, being a little bit disappointed.
"For a man who doesn't talk to the media, he uses it very well when he has to or wants to."
Stuart suggested Bennett's stature in the game was less mystical than some had made it out to be.
"There's been a number of signs of weakness from Wayne over the years, and I don't really fall under the myth of his so-called guru-ism," he said.
The former NSW State of Origin mentor said he had asked Bennett's assistant with the Kangaroos, Melbourne's Craig Bellamy, to stay on but had yet to receive an answer.
In a Sunday newspaper column, Stuart put the Kangaroos players on notice, again questioning their passion for representing Australia.
"The Australian team is going to look very different," he wrote. "Either some players weren't up to the job in England, or others, based on what we saw in England, need to lift their game to stay in the side. From the outside looking in, all I can say is that Australia looked like an emotionless, disinterested side."
Meanwhile, Stuart said he had decided on retired captain Luke Ricketson's successor at the Roosters and an announcement would be made next week. English hardman Adrian Morley and second-rower Craig Fitzgibbon are contenders for the job.
AAP
December 19, 2005
NEW Australian rugby league coach Ricky Stuart has finally responded to stinging comments Wayne Bennett made about his coaching, suggesting his predecessor's guru-like status in the sport was a myth.
The outgoing Australian coach last week rang a Brisbane radio station to respond to suggestions that Stuart would curb player drinking more effectively than Bennett had on the recent Tri-Nations tour.
"It comes to be expected," Stuart told Sydney radio station 2KY yesterday when asked about Bennett's comments. "You look at a lot of the points that he brought up and a lot of them were incorrect. He said we [NSW] had four people in security looking after the players [during the State of Origin series]. I had a couple of assistant managers looking after the players in regards to security, and they weren't security people.
"There were other comments he made that were incorrect but I just let it fly."
Stuart and his club, the Sydney Roosters, last week refused to comment on Bennett's outburst. "He's going through enough as it is, he didn't need me jumping onto a bandwagon and discrediting him," Stuart said yesterday.
"It's a matter of him, I think, being a little bit disappointed.
"For a man who doesn't talk to the media, he uses it very well when he has to or wants to."
Stuart suggested Bennett's stature in the game was less mystical than some had made it out to be.
"There's been a number of signs of weakness from Wayne over the years, and I don't really fall under the myth of his so-called guru-ism," he said.
The former NSW State of Origin mentor said he had asked Bennett's assistant with the Kangaroos, Melbourne's Craig Bellamy, to stay on but had yet to receive an answer.
In a Sunday newspaper column, Stuart put the Kangaroos players on notice, again questioning their passion for representing Australia.
"The Australian team is going to look very different," he wrote. "Either some players weren't up to the job in England, or others, based on what we saw in England, need to lift their game to stay in the side. From the outside looking in, all I can say is that Australia looked like an emotionless, disinterested side."
Meanwhile, Stuart said he had decided on retired captain Luke Ricketson's successor at the Roosters and an announcement would be made next week. English hardman Adrian Morley and second-rower Craig Fitzgibbon are contenders for the job.
AAP
