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NRL supercoach Wayne Bennett will notch his 900th game in charge this weekend at Magic Round. Just don’t ask him about his career.
The 73-year-old, who has a win record 62.5 per cent to go with his seven premierships, was in no mood to reflect on the milestone on Friday morning, as he prepares his Dolphins to face Cronulla on Saturday evening.
“We either change the subject or I just move on,” Bennett told reporters.
“I’m not talking about my achievements, what I’ve done and haven’t done.
“You’ve written about them, had an opinion on them. We’ve all had enough of it.”
When a reporter raised the subject again, the wily mastermind was having none of it.
“Oh, we’re talking about me again?” he said.
“I’ll be clear then. If you want to talk about the team and players, that’s fine.
“But if you want to talk about me I’ll just have to leave the conference.”
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Bennett did concede that he never envisaged stepping into the coach’s box – where he’s remained for nearly five decades.
“I never thought about being a coach,” he said.
“It’s not something I wanted to do and I’m still not sure if I want to be a coach.
“I found myself doing it and I’m still doing it today.”
Despite the 900-game milestone amassed in two stints with the Broncos, and time with the Raiders, Knights, Dragons, Rabbitohs and now the Dolphins, Bennett says the real number is closer to 1080.
That’s due to his eight years in Brisbane Rugby League with Brothers and Souths.
“If you put all those in I’m well over 900,” he said.
“I coached at least 180 in Brisbane before I went to the NRL.
“I don’t see why they shouldn’t (count), but unless you’re in the NRL life doesn’t really exist outside of it.
“There is a lot of existence outside it and a lot of great players that did great things in those competitions prior to the NRL.
“I’ve always believed the players should get that recognition but it doesn’t count so you move on with life.”
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