Wayne faces Griffin hoodoo

WAYNE Bennett must overcome his arch nemesis to keep Brisbane’s premiership dream alive, with Penrith coach Anthony Griffin in the box seat to exact the ultimate revenge on the man who took his job.

Griffin will return to Suncorp Stadium on Friday night for the third time since he was punted by the Broncos in 2014 to make way for Bennett’s fairytale return to Red Hill.

The Panthers will ride into Brisbane high on confidence after their 22-10 win against Manly and Bennett will have to face his coaching kryptonite in an elimination final.

Griffin holds a remarkable record against the seven-time premiership winning Bennett.

Since they started coaching against each other in 2011, Bennett has won just two of 11 matches (one draw) when Griffin has been sitting in the other coaches box.

The 18.2 per cent win rate is by far Bennett’s worst record against any rival coach (five games minimum) in his glittering 786-game career.

Bennett dismissed the Griffin hoodoo as “rubbish” earlier this season before recording his second win in the rivalry.

In typical Griffin fashion, the uncharismatic clipboard holder said he was yet to think about his return to Brisbane.

“I haven’t thought too much about Brisbane,” he said.

“It’s a big ask going to Brisbane and playing them in a final.

“I’m really happy for the

players. It’s great to see them on the big stage at this time of the year. It’s been a really tough season.”

Bennett coached the Broncos to six titles between 1992-2006 before heading to St George-Illawarra (2009) and Newcastle (2012).

Griffin assumed the Broncos coaching duties in 2011 after Ivan Henjak was sacked following two seasons in the post-Bennett era.

The Broncos finished 12th in 2013 and Griffin was punted midway through 2014 after Bennett agreed to leave Newcastle and return in 2015.

When he was coaching the Dragons Bennett had a 0-2 record against Griffin’s Broncos and he only managed one win and one draw from six games when in charge of the Knights.

Brisbane’s Round 9 win against Penrith this season was Bennett’s first in three outings against the Griffin’s Panthers.

Panthers hooker Peter Wallace, a former Broncos halfback, said Penrith was facing a huge task to record an upset win and keep their season alive.

“The Broncos will want to bounce back from last week so we will expect them to come out firing,” he said.