The missing games in Wayne Bennett’s coaching career that the NRL refuses to acknowledge, leading the master coach to play over 1000 games
- Wayne Bennett has coached 899 games in the NRL
- Game 900 is Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium
- Believes his Brisbane coaching comp should also count
- In charge of Brothers and Souths in the 1970s and 1980s
- Coached at NRL level since 1987, won seven titles
In a remarkable record that will probably never be beaten, Wayne Bennett will record 900 career games as an NRL coach when the Dolphins take on the Sharks at Magic Round on Saturday night.
Suncorp Stadium will be the venue, fittingly given that it has been the scene of many Brisbane Broncos triumphs with the supercoach at the helm for two stints (1988-2008 and 2015-2018).
Bennett was also a first-class coach long before joining the Raiders at the NRL in 1987.
The 73-year-old captained Souths and Brothers in the Brisbane Rugby League competition in the 1970s and 1980s, culminating in victory over Wynnum-Manly in 1985.
Ahead of his landmark match, Bennett is adamant that the NRL should also formally recognize the BRL’s 180 matches as his coaching record.
Dolphin coach Wayne Bennett would like to see his coaching numbers in the Brisbane league recognized by the NRL
Bennett has won seven NRL premierships, including the 2006 Grand Final (pictured with Darren Lockyer)
“Well, if you put them all down [competitions] there I played more than 900 games, I coached at least 180 in Brisbane before going to the NRL,” he said on Friday.
“I don’t see why they shouldn’t be[counted]but unless you’re in the NRL, life out there doesn’t really exist – that’s in their minds.
‘There is a lot out there, and a lot of players [like Wally Lewis] who did a lot of things in those games leading up to the NRL.”
Famously cryptic, Bennett said, “I never thought about being a coach, it’s not something I actually wanted to do, and I’m still not sure I want to be a coach.”
At NRL level, Bennett was in charge of Raiders in 1987 [28 matches]with further stints with the Broncos [631 matches, 1988-2008 and 2015-2018]Dragons [79 matches, 2009-2011]Knights [75 matches, 2012-2014] Rabbitohs [77 matches, 2019-2021]and as the Dolphins’ inaugural coach [eight matches].
Bennett’s career record to date stands at 562 wins, 323 losses and 14 draws, for a winning percentage of 62.5 – and seven premierships along the way.
The former police officer has also coached Queensland, England, Great Britain, New Zealand and the NRL All Stars.
Bennett was a popular figure when he was in charge of the Rabbitohs between 2019 and 2021
Allan Langer remains one of Bennett’s favorite players to have coached in his decorated career (pictured, the pair after winning the 2001 Origin series)
ARLC President Peter V’landys does not believe Bennett’s coaching numbers will be surpassed.
“I can only marvel at Wayne Bennett’s career – what he’s done for the game and what he’s been able to achieve with the game is phenomenal,” he said.
“Records may be meant to be broken, but it’s almost certain they won’t be.”