Wayne Bennett has defended his contentious no-show at Wednesday night’s NRL Hall of Fame function, saying he couldn’t attend due to “personal reasons”.
Bennett was one of 25 people inducted into the NRL’s Hall of Fame but declined to make the flight from Brisbane to Sydney for the event at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The veteran coach left it to fellow inductee Sam Burgess, who had made the long journey from England, to take the stage and speak on his behalf.
“This is probably not his style,” Burgess said.
“But the majority of people in this room would have been touched in some way by Wayne. We’re grateful Wayne is a part of this game.”
Speaking to this masthead on Thursday morning, Bennett explained why he had snubbed the function.
“It was a personal reason. I won’t discuss it. I just couldn’t be there,” Bennett said.
Wayne Bennett snubbed the Hall of Fame dinner because of “personal reasons”Credit: Getty
“I made a decision about what was a priority and the most important thing. It was as simple as that.
“I didn’t think they wouldn’t miss I wasn’t there. But it had nothing to do with the game, nothing to do with last night, it has nothing to do with anyone there.”
Bennett said he was honoured to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and “elated” for the game’s latest Immortal, Ron Coote. Coote was revealed as the NRL’s 14th Immortal at the SCG function.
“Ron is a great man,” Bennett said.
“It’s still a bit overwhelming [for me]. From the time I was four years of age, I can remember rugby league being played and being around rugby league players. In my life, some of the best men I’ve met are rugby league players.
“To think you’re seen in this light, it’s very humbling. I’ve been rewarded so many times because of this game.”
More to come
