Skip to content
967sports

967sports

"Where Every Play Sparks an Epic Sports Story"

Primary Menu
  • Home
  • Football
  • Hockey
  • Basketball
  • NBA
  • NHL
  • NRL
  • sport cars
  • MLB
Live
  • Home
  • 2024
  • May
  • 31
  • Where Are the Pathways to Develop Successors for Bennett, Bellamy, and Cleary?
  • NRL

Where Are the Pathways to Develop Successors for Bennett, Bellamy, and Cleary?

967sportsof May 31, 2024

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
dlkbf

With the news that Wayne Bennett will undertake another rescue mission at South Sydney, the value of a top-tier NRL coach with experience and the acumen to deliver premierships is once again highlighted.

As Jason Demetriou manages a worsening situation at the Bunnies, the club decided to turn once more to the seasoned Bennett, who, based on the Dolphins’ first two seasons, has retained his expertise.

There was no inclination to opt for a rookie coach or a moderately successful one. For South Sydney, it was a straightforward decision: bring in Wayne and enjoy the confidence of knowing exactly what they were getting.

While “pathways” is a common term in player development, and coaches typically progress through various levels, modern NRL often thrusts young coaches into a sink-or-swim scenario, with only a few consistently staying afloat.

The ongoing success of Ivan Cleary’s Panthers and Craig Bellamy’s Melbourne Storm, along with the quality Bennett brings to the Bunnies in his second stint, underscores the fact that these three coaches stand out among their peers.

Their million-dollar value in the market is evident, especially as coaches in the modern era seem less replaceable than ever before.

The Storm exemplify this, with stars like Cronk, Slater, Inglis, Finucane, and Smith having been replaced effectively through the pathways developed by Bellamy, a testament to his coaching genius. However, within the NRL’s development system, there doesn’t seem to be a clear pathway for grooming a successor capable of stepping into Bellamy’s role once he retires.

There are promising young coaches in the ranks. Craig Fitzgibbon has the Sharks on the edge of serious contention, despite occasional setbacks. Canterbury’s Cameron Ciraldo is building something promising at the kennel, though time will tell how successful he becomes. Andrew Webster looks the best of the young coaches based on his achievements with the Warriors in 2023.

Complete judgment is still pending on North Queensland’s Todd Payten, who now needs to elevate his team to the elite level consistently. Kevin Walters, after a rocky start, is delivering on his promises to the Broncos, but whether he can join the coaching elite remains to be seen.

Among the older coaches, Ricky Stuart and Des Hasler have had successful seasons but are inconsistent. They are capable but not quite at the level of the top three, which the Titans acknowledged in their pursuit of Hasler. Brad Arthur similarly couldn’t quite elevate Parramatta to the highest level, and Shane Flanagan’s success with the Sharks is marred by controversy.

In summary, if you were selecting a new coach, three names would stand out: Bennett, Cleary, and Bellamy. Investing in an unproven coach like Benji Marshall or a serial failure like Trent Barrett seems more desperate than strategic.

Trent Robinson might be considered the fourth top coach, but there are few other clear contenders at this stage. The pathways to elite coaching are not producing new candidates capable of challenging Bennett, Cleary, and Bellamy. Perhaps Ciraldo, Webster, or Marshall will eventually do so, but for now, the top coaches in the NRL age like fine wine, with Cleary the youngest at 53.

One might have thought that Bellamy, at 64, and Bennett, at 74, would have been surpassed by the next generation by now. But they remain on top, and that may be their greatest achievement.

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Continue Reading

Previous: Melbourne Storm Expands High-Performance Program to Local Schools to Cultivate Future NRL Talent
Next: Addressing the Issue: AFL Legend Urges Major Adjustment to Tackle Game’s Biggest Penalty

Related Stories

NRL
  • NRL

Breaking News: Who Should Be the 14th Immortal?

Daniel Dakur August 19, 2024
Sydney Roosters
  • NRL

Sydney Roosters Secure Star with $1.6 Million Two-Year Deal

Daniel Dakur July 1, 2024
Junior Pauga
  • NRL

Junior Pauga’s Controversial Sending Off Results in Suspension from Several Matches

Daniel Dakur June 26, 2024

You may have missed

IMG_0990
  • Baseball
  • MLB
  • New York Yankees

MAJOR BOOST: Yankees Secure Big-Time Power Upgrade at Third Base Ahead of Playoff Push — Key Trade Reshapes Infield and Boosts October Hopes

Kelly June 18, 2025
IMG_0987
  • Premier League

FC Porto Anuncia Ambicioso Projeto de Renovação do Estádio do Dragão com Vista ao Mundial 2030 e Grandes Eventos Internacionais

Kelly June 18, 2025
images (81)
  • Premier League

Astrit Selmani de la FC Dinamo București Descoperă că Fostul Om de Serviciu Lucra la 79 de Ani – O Surpriză Care Schimbă Vieți

Kelly June 18, 2025
3a466-17179610264473-1920
  • Alexander zverev

Breaking: Andy Roddick Stirs Tennis World by Declaring Alexander Zverev the Greatest Player Without a Grand Slam Title Amid Harsh Criticism and Coaching Controversy

Kelly June 17, 2025

Categories

  • A-League (1)
  • AFL (546)
  • AFLW (2)
  • Alexander zverev (4)
  • Aston Martin (2)
  • Astrit Selmani (1)
  • Baseball (662)
  • Basketball (379)
  • BOXING (3)
  • Canadian Premier League (3)
  • CFL (57)
  • Chicago Blackhawks (1)
  • Cincinnati Reds (5)
  • CRICKET (37)
  • CYCLING (2)
  • darts championship (9)
    • Mercedes-Benz (7)
  • Dinamo București (1)
  • Dog Show (1)
  • Edmonton Oilers (1)
  • Football (89)
    • Bundesliga (2)
    • Champion League (1)
    • Championship (1)
    • La Liga (3)
    • Premier League (39)
  • Formula 1 (67)
  • formula1 (154)
  • golf (9)
  • Hockey (259)
  • huskies (1)
  • Kansas State Wildcats (1)
  • manchester united (2)
  • Michigan (1)
  • michigan wolverines (8)
  • MLB (1,099)
  • MLS (126)
  • MMA (2)
  • MotoGP (2)
  • National football league (2)
  • National League (1)
  • NBA (372)
  • NCAA (1,544)
  • NCAA BASKETBALL (11)
  • NCCA (35)
  • New England Patriots (8)
  • New York Yankees (6)
  • NFL (3,017)
  • NHL (247)
  • Novak Djokovic (1)
  • NRL (362)
  • olympic (1)
  • OLYMPICS (1)
  • Oregon Ducks (1)
  • pool (1)
  • Rugby (96)
  • Samu Aghehowa (1)
  • Serie a (6)
  • Snooker (1)
  • Soccer (80)
  • sport cars (2)
  • St. Louis Cardinals (7)
  • Tadej Pogačar (1)
  • Tennis (118)
  • Texas rangers (1)
  • Transfer News (16)
  • UFC (2)
  • UFL (5)
  • USWNT (1)
  • VolleyBall (1)
  • WNBA (5)
  • Wrestling (4)

Tags

AFL Atlanta Braves Atlanta Falcons Auburn Tigers Boston Celtics Boston Red Sox Buffalo Bills Carolina Panthers Chicago Bears Cincinnati reds Cleveland Browns Cleveland Guardians Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Edmonton Oilers Essendon Bombers Formula 1 Green Bay Packers Indianapolis Colts Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Max Verstappen Miami Dolphins Michigan Wolverine michigan wolverines Minnesota Vikings MLB MLS NBA NCAA New England Patriots New York Giants New York Jets New York Knicks NFL NHL NRL Ohio State Buckeyes Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Phillies Pittsburgh Penguins Pittsburgh Steelers Seattle Seahawks Sydney Roosters Tennis
  • Home
  • Football
  • Hockey
  • Basketball
  • NBA
  • NHL
  • NRL
  • sport cars
  • MLB
  • Home
  • Football
  • Hockey
  • Basketball
  • NBA
  • NHL
  • NRL
  • sport cars
  • MLB
Copyright © All rights reserved. | MoreNews by AF themes.
%d