AN ORIGIN HOLMES-COMING
VAL READY FOR BLOCKBUSTER:
WAYNE Bennett sees no reason why he can’t coach South Sydney and Queensland next year after declaring the Maroons hold no fears of tonight’s Sydney showdown.
Bennett’s underdog Maroons have a chance to win back the State of Origin shield when they clash with NSW at ANZ Stadium in Game Two of the series.
The Maroons conjured an upset w win in last week’s opener in Adelaide and can wrap up their first series win since 2017 with victory in Sydney.
Queensland received a boost with Game One hero Kurt Capewell (groin) cleared to play after completing Tuesday morning’s captain’s run.
If Bennett can orchestrate an againstthe-odds series victory, the Queensland Rugby League will consider retaining him for 2021 despite his NRL commitments with South Sydney.
In his fourth stint as Maroons coach, Bennett said he could juggle both roles but would not pursue the job permanently until next year’s NRL season and Origin schedule is finalised.
“I did it seven times before so I don’t know what’s changed,” he said.
“I won’t become any clearer regardless of what happens in this series until I see what next year is looking like and where it all goes here.”
The Maroons have traditionally struggled at the Olympics venue, winning only nine of 28 games (one draw) played there since 1999.
Bennett has not won an Origin match at ANZ Stadium, losing three (2001, 02, 03) along with a draw in 2002. All three defeats have been by at least 18 points.
Queensland’s last win at the Sydney stadium came in Game Two of 2017, when Johnathan Thurston kicked a famous sideline conversion to clinch an 18-16 comeback victory. Despite Queensland’s poor record at Homebush, Bennett said the Maroons were not concerned about the trip south.
“We haven’t mentioned it, I don’t even think they (players) realise they’re getting on a plane tomorrow,” he said.
“We haven’t talked about it. I don’t struggle down there. I don’t know why they’ll struggle. There’s five or six
players that just played in a grand final down there and won. They don’t struggle.
“We need to play better than we did last week in terms of our execution and the way we played the game. There’s a lot of improvement in us. We’re aiming to get that improvement.”
The injury-ravaged Maroons defied the odds to win in Adelaide but they have still been criticised in Sydney media.
Bennett said he took no notice of Queensland’s detractors and urged his underdogs to produce another spirited performance after they overcame a 10-nil deficit to win Game One.
“Do they drug test journalists? I think they should if that’s the case, if they’re making that type of stuff up,” he said.
“I haven’t been reading it. I respect them enormously and the way they played. The state respects them.
“With the way they played last week, if they go out and back that up, win, lose or draw no one will be endorsing those comments. It’s someone who was probably just wanting an easy story and made it up on the run.”
I don’t struggle down there. I don’t know why they’ll struggle
WAYNE BENNETT