Wayne Bennett's post-match speech at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night was short and simple, but it said so much.
He has never been one to waste words. He is famous for his terse one-liners or the non-responsive shrugs he offers to innocuous questions put to him by journalists at press conferences.
The only conversations I ever had with him were limited to a couple of one-syllable words. Mind you, we probably had little to talk about.
However, on this occasion, he was both emotional and giving.
He spoke with the calmness and confidence of a man who is proud of his achievements. He held hands with his greatest supporter, his son, as he spoke.
The lines on his face mark the years of hard work and stress associated with coaching professional sport.
But there was not a hint of sadness. It was surreal to see a man who had given so much to this highly successful organisation accept the fact that his time had come and a new chapter of his life was about to begin.
He saved his thanks and appreciation for only two groups of people.
Firstly, he thanked his players - all his players. The greats, the not-so-greats, the big, the small and the not-so-tall - he has a place is his heart for all of them.
He made special mention of the men who were there with him at the beginning. Champions such as Wally Lewis, Gene Miles and Allan Langer had contributed to the early success of the Brisbane dynasty and he acknowledged their value.
During his time at the Broncos Bennett also showed us that no one was irreplaceable. Players came and went but the wins kept coming on a regular basis, with his team reaching the finals for the last 17 years. This is truly an amazing performance.
Secondly, he thanked the fans. The faithful who turn up every week to support his team meant a lot to him.
However, it's significant that he only spoke of the players and the fans.
Whether he intended to or not, Bennett sent the message that these are the only people in our game that truly count. It's for these people, particularly the fans, that our game should be run.
The best interests of the fans and players should be the only priority in all decision-making.
Not the owners, media, referees, officials or the gamblers. The way the game is administered these days you could be excused for thinking the interests of the fans and the players are anything but priorities.
Bennett added that he hoped people had enjoyed watching his Broncos play, a team he has built from the ground up.
The culture, demeanour, competitiveness and image of the club are all a reflection of the personality and ideals of Wayne Bennett. One wonders what the club will look like in, say, 10 years.
He leaves it in great shape.
As I watched him slowly make his way around Suncorp Stadium on a farewell lap of honour, I couldn't help but think his limp and painful shuffle was indicative of a man ready to retire.
I later learned this Cliff Young impersonation was simply because he had been kicked in the leg by a bull on his Queensland property during the week and not because it was a sign of old age.
Ah, yes. Mr Bennett is not finished just yet. The Dragons are getting a good man. >ACADEMY CALL
Many expressed their agreement with many of the issues I raised. There was widespread support for the idea of more junior rugby league academies as a means of introducing youngsters to league in a less physical and stressful environment.
One such caller was former Roosters and Bulldogs halfback Paul Khoury who, along with several enthusiastic mates, has decided to start his own rugby league academy. Paul wants kids, parents and junior league coaches to have somewhere to go to learn more about the game.
His preparation has been meticulous and I really like the look of the programs.
I love the idea of ex-players putting their time back into junior coaching and rugby league development. If they can earn a few dollars for themselves in the process then I'm all for that as well.
Paul has established an academy called Rugby League Blitz. On his website www.rlblitz.com.au he describes his new venture as "an innovative coaching academy that has been established for boys and girls, all ability, aged six-16 years to develop in the game".
Rugby League Blitz will hold its first holiday clinic on Wednesday, October 1, at The Crest in Bass Hill. I will be in attendance to lend a hand and answer any questions from parents and junior league coaches. A RECENT column I wrote regarding junior sport and the development of our future stars sparked a flood of calls and emails from parents and junior league coaches.
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