One of Wayne Bennett‘s favourite ‘sons’ is the favourite to win the prized job as his assistant coach at the Dolphins in their inaugural season in 2023 – and to succeed him when he retires.
Former Queensland State of Origin and Kiwi Test utility Nathan Fien was a member of Bennett’s premiership-winning team at the Dragons in 2010.
The pair have remained close since and Fien, who has achieved good results with Corrimal in the Wollongong competition, has impressed Bennett with his coaching style.
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The appointment will be a significant one because Bennett will be 75 in 2025 when his contract expires.
At Souths, the master coach groomed Jason Demetriou to be his successor and he is expected to do a similar job should Fien come on board.
Horror Super League tackle catalyst for NRL switch
Newcastle’s Mitch Barnett isn’t the only player in the hot seat for an ugly incident in the past week.
Last week in Super League, Huddersfield Giants star Will Pryce was given a ten-match ban for an awful spear tackle on Hull FC’s Connor Wynne.
A man who knows Pryce well – former England Test star Richard Mathers – believes the lengthy ban will see the talented utility back pack his bags and try his luck in the NRL
Mathers tweeted: “Bad tackle no doubt. 10 matches is ludicrous. That in my opinion has put final piece of jigsaw for his move to the NRL, where they haven’t turned the game on it’s (sic) head.”
https://twitter.com/RichardMathers/status/1506351430852042758?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Several NRL clubs are already looking at Pryce, whose father Leon played 17 times for Great Britain.
At 19, Will has already won selection for the England Knights, considered to be the feeder team for the England Test side.
Ferguson wins over fans in Group 6 debut
Blake Ferguson is a polarising figure who has found plenty of strife over the years, including his recent month-long stint in a Japanese prison for being caught in possession of cocaine.
But as with most controversial figures, there are two sides to Ferguson.
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The former Test and Origin winger made his return to football in Group 6 last weekend, playing for Thirlmere Roosters in a 30-16 loss to Picton Magpies.
Some weren’t happy the club had taken on a player with such a bad boy reputation – but Ferguson won over the fans, staying on the field long after fulltime to sign autographs and pose for photos.
A likeable rogue, hopefully he will be able to give back something to the game that has given him so much over the years in bush footy as he attempts to win himself a contract in the NRL.
Tigers on the prowl
Briton Nikora isn’t the only Sharks forward that the Tigers are chasing for 2023.
I’m hearing that the Tigers are also keen on giant middle forward Franklin Pele.
The former Australian Schoolboys prop played one game for the Sharks in the NRL last year before shoulder surgery ended his season.
This year he’s been unable to force his way into Craig Fitzgibbon’s top side but at 191 cm and 121 kg he has size and a real presence.
Pele’s path to the top grade would be a lot quicker at the struggling Tigers and at 21, he has a real future in the game according to good judges.
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