Wayne Bennett will not sign a new contract with the Dragons as he wants a new challenge for 2012.

[i “The financial offer from the Dragons was extremely gracious and far exceeded my expectations but for me it is not about the money, it is about moving onto the next challenge"[/i

Whether SL is on his agenda is anyone's guess, but what else has he yet to archive?


For the record this is not a McDermott out thread, I'm all for giving him until the end of the season. He needs at least until July (when Peacock and McGuire will be match fit) to be judged and even then we may aswell see the season out and do a better job at bringing in the right man for the job. If that happens I would be delighted to see Wayne Bennett in the hot seat.

I'm sure he's said in previous interviews that he had no desire to come to SL although he is a good friend of GH.

I seem to remember that as well

So is McDermott.

I'm sure he could temp him over for a season or two, maybe with McDermott stepping down to his assistant to learn from the master.

(in an ideal world)

This raises another question

So if McDermott doesn't achieve silverwear or a final this season, he is out?

yes?

Depends how you define it Loz.
For me If we are contending in the semi-finals of the CC and top 5 then that's fair enough considering the start and injuries thus far.
I'd like to think he'll be here not least because already the squad plans for next year should already be drawn up and it will be a pretty important recruitment process imo.

For me the recruitment next year will be cruical, yes we have the youngsters coming up but another forward or two would be useful but we need to look at the kids that are in the Academy sides coming through as there does seem to be some good talent there

McDermott for me I'd be happy with Semi final of CC and last two weeks of playoff's. If we dont so be it, we have had injurys but we have also had kids come through

Think it depends on who else is out there. If someone of Bennetts calebre wanted to come then yes he would be moved aside. I think if we are there or there abouts he will probably stay.

in a pre season dinner Mcdermott stated himself it was a transition year, and didnt expect to win anything, which at the time I didnt particulary like though was a bit pesermistic!

I can't see someone of Bennett's standing being interested unless the team starts showing a lot more potential than it is currently. And if it does I can hardly see GH getting shut of McDermott. Definite no-no for me.

We could have had Wayne Bennett and Bellamy working in tandem, and we were never going to win silverware this season.

It would be ridiculous if McDermott was judged in just one season on silverware alone.

More changes should have taken place at end of last season, and McDermott should have been told you have 2011 to improve the style of play, and 2012 is back to expectation levels.

Dream land

I'm not having a pop at you here but for me, I have no problem with that as we saw that from the end of last season. I have a problem with our fans expecting trophys all the time. Yes we won three on the trot but clubs in the league have caught up with us and some overtaken us (Yes, that could be blamed on recuitment etc or squad getting older) but we cannot expect glory all the time

I think McDermott needs time, after all the season is only just over a month old and some people on this topic are looking at coaches for next season



The players seem happy with him and as far as I can see it's down to them and their personal form

Agree to a certain level

agree again



Now for me 2012 could be a problem already, say you bring a load of players in, how long are we giving them to settle, a month, two? Plus, are we going to give the youngsters a chance or are we just going to go for Aussie imports?

No I missed a bit off my post!! at the time I was a bit put out because in my poinion you should always aim to be winning. Even crusaders she be aiming for the top or there is no point in competing for me.
But when I tought about it he was just expressing his realistic finishing position. So i then read that that we are aiming for 1st but would be happy with 4th

If any of that makes sense?

Not necessarily.

I mean, for example, if we finished 2nd/3rd/4th, made it to the CC Final, AND the Grand Final (losing both), that would be "a silverwearless season" but what I'd call a pretty successful one under the circumstances.

I really don't want to turn into one of these clubs that sacks the manager every trophy-less season. Look at Ferguson. He didn't win stuff straight away. Didn't Man Utd finish 11th his first season in charge? McDermott has inherited a strong (Championship Winning, to be fair!) squad, and it is really only a 5 horse race (ask Swiftcorn!) so yes, there should be no real excuse for us finishing lower than 5th.

With this squad, whoever the Hell the coach is, we should be challenging for all honours, and I'd be happy to be "challenging" for them. If we have a decent cup run, and are close to OT (for example a carbon copy of last year which was also trophy-less under Bluey!), then I would like to think his job is safe.

I agree Loz, which is why for me more changes should have taken place for the beginning of this season not at the end of this season.

I agree in sense you aim for the top as your right, thats why we are in the League but I think with this year we cant expect that (Dont get me wrong I would love it)

Performances will mean more than silverwear. We could string some awesome and consistent performances this season only to lose to a very very good Wigan or Warrington side in the finals. Thats rugby league, all I want is to be entertained. If we come out on the losing side then so be it, aslong as we've played some good stuff.

as long as we are competing for honors, then I am ok with that. I think for a team like leeds with the players we still have we should be competitive. as long as we do this i am ok with Mcdermott keeping his job. dont need to be in the finals but we should be around there.

You see I think the changes are already been made, yet again we have had injuries like last season but the kids have come through again, I was mightily impressed with Singleton the other week for example

For next season we have to get rid of some of the Dads Army, we cant end up being like Revie era Leeds United of the 70s where we keep players for years on end. For me Senior and Ali there time may have to be up

However do we to other Super League clubs or do we go to NRL, I just dont want a 30+ "few years in him" player, I want someone who can build up in the team for us but wont get 'homesick' like Eastwood

Sorry for picking you out here, "Keeping his job"

a new "manager" in another business would be given more than 12 months to prove his worth, surely

Both should have gone at end of last season. There time was up then, they are stealing a living now at the expense of others we could use.



I would hope we do it the way we did previously. We promote quality youth (that's youth, not 22 & 23 year olds), and we supplement that with quality experienced players (who can consistently put in performances) whether overseas or English.

Let's not forget that Bluey (who is widely regarded as an excellent coach) also finished trophyless last season.

I don't see how we can say to McDermott - "Trophy, or you're out!".

Controversial I know, but I have high hopes for him. Yes, we've made a lot of errors, but I love what it is he's trying to do. Thus far, he's thrown Watkins & BJB straight in at RC & RW, over the much more experience and "easy option" of the Delaney/Smith combo. Seems to have made McShane a much more rounded player, and given Buderus much more game time. I know he's had problems generating "Go Forward" and pack domination but I think Harry Houdini would have the same problems if he's limited to using Kirke at prop!

And no I'm not a "believest" before you start Swiftcorn, I've been to the games, watched what we've done well, and enjoyed it. He needs a lot of work on getting the stuff we're not doing well right, but give him time to do it and we're away.

I will just say though.. I would've thought he'd have cut out this back chatting the ref that we've become synonymous with. I would've thought this was one of the first things he'd be able to deal with quickly and I'm a little disappointed that it still seems to be going on. It's getting a little embarrassing now.

Senior + Ali + Burrow = Boot.