I always liked listening to ‘The Wok’ on the radio, Warren Ryan, not that Chinese bloke that looks like Dwayne Johnson. I spent many days listening to the ABC, with Ryan providing the expert commentary on the game at hand and wider issues in the game. Expert is the correct word to describe his thoughts on the game of Rugby League. However, he has been described as ‘abrupt’, ‘difficult to understand’ and ‘difficult to get along with’. He was a part of the media, but he hated the media and the media hated him, by all reports. More on Warren later, but those words remind me very much of another modern-day super coach.
What a great night on Friday night. Johnson breaking Ken Irvine’s record. I will leave all of that for Ian, RITV and the Prop to dissect. Even though it was well past my bedtime, I decided to stay up and watch the after-match press conferences, particularly Wayne and Alex Johnson. The first journo started with something like, “Wayne, huge night, can you talk us through your emotions tonight”. Wayne, “I have said a fair bit about it, I hate repeating myself, let’s move on”. The incredulous journalist said, “Move on?” Wayne, “Yes.” It was like the bar closing, the music stopping and the lights coming on at the nightclub when you were having a great time. The ‘vibe’ was gone. It just seemed odd that he would take that approach. It struck the wrong chord with me. He went on to describe the night as ‘pretty disruptive’. Thankfully, they started asking questions of Johnson and left the cranky old man to his own devices. Sure, old ‘Gran Torino’ could not keep the fans (and the Prime Minister) off the lawn but, surely, he could have done better than “move on”. However, I should not have been surprised. Even after all these years, I have no idea what to expect from Wayne.
Today, I read an article titled ‘Inside the hidden genius of Wayne Bennett’. Sure enough, the press conference got a mention as an example of his ‘invisible smarts’ and that it was an ‘a tactical move to keep the focus on the collective’. That may be so, but I thought it was the wrong way to go. Regardless of whether Souths win or lose this weekend, surely that will have little to do with it. Wayne is known for skilfully manipulating the media, quite an achievement for someone who says very little most of the time. Wayne was once part of the media yet did not want to face them when he returned from England after a loss and was smuggled out a back door at the airport. He often talks about promoting the game but sometimes seems to do the opposite. He is famous for the loyalty he generates from his players yet has fallen out with or sacked some of them for various reasons. To me he seems complex. I think he would probably say the opposite, but I am not sure.
Back to ‘The Wok’. Apart from the obvious similarities to Bennett (abrupt, difficult to understand, dislike of the media etc), they had vastly different approaches to coaching. Ryan was an Xs and Os man, invented ‘line theory’ and often spoke about Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion. He coached footwork in defence and marched his players through defensive drills like a band master. Bennett is much less scientific in his approach. Ryan had the following things to say about Wayne. “Wayne’s big thing is to get the best players and keep them happy, not teach football. It is a sensible theory if you can’t teach football”. Crunch, ‘Cement’ Gillespie could not have been more brutal. Just for good measure, “I know a bloke (Bennett) who has won a lot of comps in Qld because Kevvie (Walters) and Alfie (Langer) supplied the smarts, and tough forwards”. Crunch again. Kelly high and Folkes low.
After leaving a club, he gave this classic offering, “There is no future in coaching under chook raffle administrators who are a combination of Geriatrics and Hillbillies”. On a Sunday afternoon though he was great company, especially on a long drive home. He often predicted future trends in the game, although he could not predict what was going to happen in the last 10 minutes of the famous 1989 Grand Final. Some of my favourite quotes are as follows.
“I have analysed this match and come to the conclusion that neither team can win.”
When a forward was caught in the backline he was “the Tuba in the string section”. During the merger period he said of the two teams being discussed, “They will realise that they are the worst looking couple at the dance and decide to get together”. My favourite thought was when he was going through the line-up for a Manly game. When he got to the Manly front row he said, “Mark Carroll, big, tough Mark, if you need 10 metres he will get you 10 metres, if you need 15 metres, he will get you 10, if you need 20, he will get you 10, but he will get you 10 every time”. A nice wrap for Spudd, I think?
The answer to last week’s question is Harry ‘The Old Fox’ Bath. Harry played 5 seasons in the NSWRL and won 5 premierships. He played for Balmain in 1946 and 1947 before heading to England to play for Barrow. He then played 346 games for Warrington between 1948 and 1956 before returning to Australia to play for St George between 1957 and 1959. Apparently, he was 33years old when he returned from England and Balmain thought he was too old, so he went to St George. He was sent off in the 1959 Grand Final for fighting with none other than Rex Mossop.
He went on to coach St George to 2 more premierships in 1977 and 1979, the team known as “Bath’s Babes”. His coaching strategy in the 1977 Grand Final replay against Parramatta lacked the subtlety you might expect from an ‘old fox’. It was physical intimidation, old school, and Rod ‘Rocket’ Reddy is remembered as the man dishing out most of the punishment. Harry passed away in 2008.
The final word this week goes to ‘The Moose That Roared’, Rex Mossop, dual international and legendary Rugby League commentator. He also campaigned against nude bathing on the northern beaches of Sydney. In a TV interview he famously said, “I have nothing against the male or female genitalia, but I don’t want it rammed down my throat”. Spot on Rex.
See you next week.
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