Andrew Johns has hit out at incoming Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett, accusing him of double requirements and poor type for reportedly assembly with participant Kalyn Ponga in Sydney.
Key factors:
- Johns introduced up Bennett’s determination to drop Justin Hodges for leaving Brisbane in 2001
- Johns stated mid-season discussions and media stories is usually a distraction for gamers
- Ponga struggled in his return from a knee damage towards the Sharks on Friday
Reviews emerged within the Sunday Telegraph that Bennett and different Dolphins officers flew to Sydney on Saturday to satisfy with Ponga over his future.
The Newcastle fullback is at the moment contracted to the Knights till the tip of 2024, however he has a participant possibility for the ultimate two years of that deal.
Ponga subsequently looms as the most important remaining title probably out there on the switch marketplace for subsequent yr and could be an enormous coup for a Dolphins membership but to land a very large title.
However Johns, who holds a job as a Knights advisor together with being an all-time nice on the membership, is unimpressed by any mid-season approaches from Bennett.
“It impacts them [as players],” Johns stated on 9’s Sunday Footy Present.
“Kalyn’s carrying a knee damage, so that you noticed he was restricted [against Cronulla on Friday night], however it could undoubtedly have been a distraction.”
Johns additionally in contrast the scenario to Justin Hodges’s at Brisbane in 2001, when Bennett dropped him to order grade after he signed with the Roosters for the subsequent yr.
“He put him on present in entrance of the crew and sacked him and he performed reserve grade all yr,” Johns stated of his former Kangaroos coach.
“It is totally different when it goes the opposite approach.”
The scenario has once more raised the controversy round devoted switch home windows after a summer time of big-name gamers signing for rivals greater than a yr out.
The likes of Viliame Kikau, Brandon Smith, Isaiah Papali’i, Reed Mahoney and Apisai Koroisau every entered this season having already secured a deal elsewhere for 2023.
“It is simply ridiculous,” NSW State of Origin coach Brad Fittler stated.
“It is an terrible, terrible search for the sport… it is so unfavorable and you are going to lose followers.
“We simply want a bracket on the finish of the yr the place you do all of your buying and selling, that is it.”
The difficulty is anticipated to be a key element of collective bargaining settlement talks this yr with the NRL wanting commerce home windows and the gamers’ union against the concept.
AAP