Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="1910, post: 2695354, member: 8272"] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans][B][B]WAYNE Bennett says Ben and Shane Walker can succeed as an NRL coaching package deal.[/B][/B][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans]Bennett urged the Knights to consider giving the Walker brothers their long-awaited shot in the big league as Rick Stone’s fulltime successor.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans]Former Dragons coach Nathan Brown is favoured to clinch the Newcastle post, but Bennett is adamant the Ipswich co-coaches would not be out of their depth in rebuilding the Knights.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans]The Walker siblings will formally apply to coach the Knights in 2016 and believe their radical methods would bring a refreshing style to the structured world of the NRL.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans]In 2011, they inherited a wooden-spoon team, but have steered Ipswich to four[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans]Intrust Super Cup finals series in five seasons despite inferior resources to cashed-up rivals Easts, Redcliffe and Townsville.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans]Ipswich are a feeder-club to the Broncos, prompting Bennett to conduct visits to appraise the Jets’ operations.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans]The Broncos coach, who quit the Knights last year to return to Brisbane after a turbulent three-year stint, rates the Walkers up to NRL standard. [/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans]“They’ve done a great job at Ipswich,” Bennett said.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans]“I’ve been to a few of their games this year and the whole facility is great. They (the Walkers) have done a wonderful job with a restricted playing roster and restricted funds.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans]“If they get an opportunity to be interviewed (for the Newcastle job), I hope it goes well for them.”[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans]The Walkers are adamant their tactical approach can work in the NRL, but privately some leading coaches believe their methods will be exposed at the highest level.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans]The Walkers’ strategic plan is based around time-in-possession, not completion rates, and running teams ragged with constant movement.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans]Asked if the duo’s unique style, dubbed “contract football”, can succeed in the NRL, Bennett said: “There’s no reason why it can’t work.”[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans]Of Newcastle’s decline, Bennett added: “You are always disappointed to see what’s happened there, but it’s not my problem anymore.”[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans]Ben Walker understands why many believe their methods are high-risk, but says their style would flourish in the NRL because players are fitter, fulltime professionals.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans]“If we had the Ipswich guys fulltime, playing the style we do, they would be better again purely because they would have more time to work on our structures,” Walker said.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans]“Players in the NRL are fitter and would be able to execute our game plans.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans]“We will never be assistant coaches in the NRL because our philosophies are completely different to anyone else’s so it would be hard for a head coach to embrace our style.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans]“But we’ve definitely done our time. Over the past five years we wanted to be comfortable with the way we’re playing to be able to transfer it to the NRL.” [url]http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/jets-coaches-ben-and-shane-walker-deserve-nrl-shot-says-wayne-bennett/story-fnp0lyn6-1227466851281[/url][/FONT][/COLOR] [/QUOTE]

Verification

Active Now

No members online now.

Total: 3 (members: 0, guests: 3)

Reply to thread

Log in

Active Now