Queenslander
09-12-05, 10:44 AM
BRISBANE said yesterday Wayne Bennett had been unfairly singled out for criticism after four other coaches failed to attend the NRL annual conference.
St George Illawarra's Nathan Brown, Parramatta's Brian Smith, Melbourne's Craig Bellamy and Manly's Des Hasler were all notable absentees as the two-day meeting ended in Sydney.
Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen questioned why there had been such a furore over Bennett's no-show when only two-thirds of the coaches turned up.
"Considering the attention his non-attendance attracted against no attention from the others, he's been very unfairly treated," Cullen said.
"It's been constantly mentioned Wayne Bennett's not going and he doesn't respect the game and that sort of stuff.
"I don't want to be seen to be bagging the other coaches for not going because if you've got a legitimate excuse for not going then that's fine."
Bennett was excused from the conference by his club as he only recently returned to Australia from a five-week Kangaroo Tour, while Smith and Brown were sick and Bellamy and Hasler are on holidays until next week.
The five coaches missed out on hearing first-hand about several changes to the game, including a move towards full-time referees, rule changes - two proposed by Warriors captain Steve Price - and a modification to the points loading at the judiciary.
North Queensland coach Graham Murray made the trip from Townsville but said he was not too upset over the no-shows, as long as those clubs sent representatives.
"To be fair to the players and coaches, today and yesterday was more informative than trying to resolve a couple of things," Murray said. "When we do the coaches one (next year), that's when everyone should be in attendance."
NRL chief executive David Gallop described the past two days as a worthwhile exercise.
"There were coaches who had minor operations yesterday and others were overseas," Gallop said. "At the end of the day we're not running a high school. If people don't want to be there then they missed a valuable opportunity."
Gallop believes the move to full-time referees, along with an all-encompassing restructure of the system, would help to develop a new pool of whistle-blowers for the NRL.
The NRL has already offered 11 full-time salaried packages with nine taken up. They range from $65,000 for those starting their careers to more than $100,000.
Referees coach Robert Finch, who played an instrumental role in the scheme, said the performance-based contracts would be reviewed annually.
"Obviously you can move up levels or if your performance and attitude aren't up to scratch you can move out of it as well," Finch said. "It really keeps the pressure on to perform week by week and year by year."
Price proposed two rule changes including penalty-kick restarts be taken 20metres infield (as opposed to 10m) and teams that fail at a penalty-goal attempt do not regain possession and the defending team receives a 20m tap.
Other suggestions include balls that become dislodged in one-on-one strips become neutral and remain in play, regardless of which side retrieves it.
Judiciary changes include new powers that allow the match review committee to charge a secondary player and points loadings for grade one careless high-tackle charges only remain in effect for one year as opposed to two years.
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,17507145-23214,00.html
St George Illawarra's Nathan Brown, Parramatta's Brian Smith, Melbourne's Craig Bellamy and Manly's Des Hasler were all notable absentees as the two-day meeting ended in Sydney.
Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen questioned why there had been such a furore over Bennett's no-show when only two-thirds of the coaches turned up.
"Considering the attention his non-attendance attracted against no attention from the others, he's been very unfairly treated," Cullen said.
"It's been constantly mentioned Wayne Bennett's not going and he doesn't respect the game and that sort of stuff.
"I don't want to be seen to be bagging the other coaches for not going because if you've got a legitimate excuse for not going then that's fine."
Bennett was excused from the conference by his club as he only recently returned to Australia from a five-week Kangaroo Tour, while Smith and Brown were sick and Bellamy and Hasler are on holidays until next week.
The five coaches missed out on hearing first-hand about several changes to the game, including a move towards full-time referees, rule changes - two proposed by Warriors captain Steve Price - and a modification to the points loading at the judiciary.
North Queensland coach Graham Murray made the trip from Townsville but said he was not too upset over the no-shows, as long as those clubs sent representatives.
"To be fair to the players and coaches, today and yesterday was more informative than trying to resolve a couple of things," Murray said. "When we do the coaches one (next year), that's when everyone should be in attendance."
NRL chief executive David Gallop described the past two days as a worthwhile exercise.
"There were coaches who had minor operations yesterday and others were overseas," Gallop said. "At the end of the day we're not running a high school. If people don't want to be there then they missed a valuable opportunity."
Gallop believes the move to full-time referees, along with an all-encompassing restructure of the system, would help to develop a new pool of whistle-blowers for the NRL.
The NRL has already offered 11 full-time salaried packages with nine taken up. They range from $65,000 for those starting their careers to more than $100,000.
Referees coach Robert Finch, who played an instrumental role in the scheme, said the performance-based contracts would be reviewed annually.
"Obviously you can move up levels or if your performance and attitude aren't up to scratch you can move out of it as well," Finch said. "It really keeps the pressure on to perform week by week and year by year."
Price proposed two rule changes including penalty-kick restarts be taken 20metres infield (as opposed to 10m) and teams that fail at a penalty-goal attempt do not regain possession and the defending team receives a 20m tap.
Other suggestions include balls that become dislodged in one-on-one strips become neutral and remain in play, regardless of which side retrieves it.
Judiciary changes include new powers that allow the match review committee to charge a secondary player and points loadings for grade one careless high-tackle charges only remain in effect for one year as opposed to two years.
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,17507145-23214,00.html