Wayne Bennett was in one of his moods following a tough loss on Saturday night and the veteran Dolphins coach took it out on a lone journalist.
Bennett was sombre to say the least after the 30-28 loss to the Knights that almost certainly ended the Dolphins’ finals chances in their inaugural NRL season.
The match was part of an NRL double header in Perth and very little media made the trip west, with just one journalist left to ask questions at Bennett’s press conference.
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It lasted just two tense minutes but the journo held his own against the terse coach intent on giving him absolutely nothing.
Bennett, 73, was asked his thoughts on referee Grant Atkins’ decision at the death to penalise prop Herman Ese’ese for holding on to opposite number after a scrum.
The act had zero bearing on the unfolding play but Atkins still decided to blow his whistle and ultimately end the contest.
“You could say that the referee refereed to the laws of the game,” Bennett said.
Things only got frostier from there.
Journalist: You often see that in games and it’s not called, did you think that should have been called a penalty?
Bennett: You’d need to ask the referee, mate. I didn’t call the penalty.
Journalist: What were your emotions in that moment when it was called?
Bennett: I was fine.
Journalist: I guess it was such a crucial moment in your season as well, is that extra hard to take for you?
Bennett: There were a lot of things in the game that were hard to take, so it just becomes one of them.
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Bennett then spoke positively about Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako, who scored a hat-trick, before the journalist went back to asking what went wrong on the night.
Journalist: Looking at today as a whole, where do you think were the areas that let you down?
Bennett: You didn’t watch the game?
Journalist: I watched the game.
Bennett: Then you can write about it.
Journalist: But just from your opinion?
Bennett: I don’t want to share it with you.
Journalist: Why’s that?
Bennett: Because it’s just my opinion and I’m not really interested in sharing it.
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