Bennett is on call for Maroons
QUEENSLAND secretly put Wayne Bennett on standby to coach the State of Origin side last year and he will field another SOS if Kevin Walters joins the Broncos.
Bennett has distanced himself from speculation he could coach Queensland in the three-match State of Origin series in November but his phone will be the first one ringing if Walters lands the Broncos job.
QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher has revealed Bennett had agreed to take charge of the Maroons last year if Walters had beaten Anthony Seibold for the Broncos job.
Hatcher, who has known Bennett for more than 40 years, claims there is a slight chance Walters could coach the Maroons in November even if he lands the Broncos job ahead of Paul Green in the next few weeks. But the more realistic option would be for Walters to concentrate on his new role, especially given the Broncos’ desperate plight.
“Once again the big fellow (Bennett) is waiting in the wings to come in if he has to,” Hatcher said.
Hatcher is supportive of Walters’ bid for the Broncos role.
“Kevin has won six premiership as a player and came into a very difficult Origin environment as a coach when he was starting from scratch and really had to rebuild a foundation of players,” he said.
“The thing I like to see in coaches was how they react in adversity.
“I remember when Kev lost his first game and went into the dressing room and it was like there had been a death in the family.
“How he handled that was brilliant.
“He made a statement like: ‘They did to us like we will do to them.’
“He did not abuse anyone. They won that series.
“He makes tough decisions.”