Wayne Bennett has been linked with coaching the Eels if Brad Arthur falters this season and could land the job through his unique ‘finder’s fee’ approach.
Arthur is heading into his 11th season at the Parramatta helm and despite making the grand final just 18 months ago, finds himself once again under pressure.
The Eels own the unwanted record of the longest premiership drought in the competition – 38 years – and club bosses are reportedly growing impatient.
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NRL 360 host Paul Kent said if there’s even “a sniff” that Arthur will be sacked then Bennett’s name will certainly be “thrown in the ring”.
Fellow journalist James Hooper doubts there has been a direct approach yet before detailing how the “dark arts” of rugby league work.
“We’ve all been around long enough to know how the dark arts of rugby league works,” Hooper said
“I don’t think anyone at Parramatta has picked up the phone to Wayne and said ‘would you be interested in coming and coaching at our joint beyond this season when you finish at the Dolphins’.
“But I wouldn’t put it beyond the realms of possibility whatsoever, and I’ve had quite a few people suggest to me, that other figures around the game have been in touch with the Eels just to let them know if they want to go in a different direction and they don’t start fast, and they need to start fast to bank early wins and put themselves in a good position.”
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Kent then revealed Bennett’s unique relationship with managers and how he only briefly works with them.
“Wayne doesn’t have a manager, as such, he manages himself,” Kent said.
“But what he does do, when it’s time to look for a new deal the managers all come bidding to him and say ‘if I get you a start at the Dolphins or if I get you a start at South Sydney or if I get you a start at Newcastle how about we work together’ and Wayne will pay them a finder’s fee.
“So I think someone has made a call to Parramatta saying Bennett is interested and I’m surprised five managers haven’t made the phone call because they want to be the first manager on the phone to Parramatta so if it does come to fruition then the managers, god bless their cotton socks, sit there at the front of the line waiting for their six per cent.”
Can Parramatta end 38 year drought? | 02:19
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