Veteran rugby league reporter Phil Rothfield has slammed Wayne Bennett’s Round 23 press convention efficiency, delivering one phrase solutions to a lone journalist in Perth.
The post-match media alternative lasted solely two minutes and Bennett was in no temper to talk after his facet’s 30-28 loss towards the Knights.
Rothfield questioned Bennett’s actions and defined that his surly angle would have solely dampened the NRL’s bid to increase rugby league’s attain in Western Australian.
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“Wayne Bennett has done more for rugby league than any other person I’ve ever met and what he has done with the Dolphins this year is sensational,” Rothfield mentioned on the Big Sports Breakfast.
“His profile in Queensland has been very much a part of the success. But the NRL spends a lot of money, puts a double header on in Perth and takes four sides over there.
“The local fans, and for us here it is like us watching an AFL game. We enjoy it, but the intricacies of it, people like me, we don’t understand it.
“You like now and again to get explanations from the coach at the media conference, Wayne goes over there in front of a new audience and he just carried on like an nark.
“One or two word answers to the one journalist that was there, an AAP journalist, Justin Chadwick in Perth.
“Wayne, as much as he has done so much for rugby league, was entitled to behave a little bit better and help spread the word in Perth.”
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Bennett has a status for delivering hilarious and equally surly moments in media appearances, however Rothfield mentioned his newest efficiency was a “bad advertisement” for rugby league.
“I don’t know why Wayne chose that stage to do it, I don’t think anyone would have cared if he had done it in Redcliffe,” Rothfield mentioned.
“We are not half used to it, but once or twice a year he will get all narky. I just think it was a bad advertisement for the game.”
Rugby league legend Laurie Daley and radio host Gerard Middleton additionally slammed Bennett’s post-match manner.
“It’s rubbish, he’s got to be better than that,” Middleton mentioned.
“It was a completely legitimate question, not being a smart Alec or anything. It was open ended, and to put it back on the journo like that is just petty.”
“I think he didn’t handle himself well at all… he needed to be better than that Wayne” Daley added.
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
