The Wayne Bennett curse looms large as the Dolphins face a critical moment in their NRL season. With a winless record after three rounds, the team is gearing up for the "Battle of Brisbane" against their fierce rivals, the Broncos, on Friday night. The stakes have never been higher for coach Kristian Woolf, as history shows that only one team has ever started a season with four consecutive losses and gone on to win the premiership: the Newtown side of 1933. Unfortunately, none of those players are around to share their secrets.
Rugby league historian and statistician David Middleton provided compelling statistics indicating just how tough it is to recover from an 0-4 start. In the NRL era, only six teams have made the finals after such a dismal beginning: the Brisbane Broncos in 1999, the Melbourne Storm in 2000, St George-Illawarra in 2005, Manly in 2009 and 2021, and Cronulla in 2015. Notably, these teams had a history of success or were on the brink of a title. The Broncos, for instance, were the reigning champions in 1998 and 2000, while the Storm had just claimed their first title in 1999. The Sea Eagles celebrated their championship in 2008, and the Sharks enjoyed their glory in 2016. The Dolphins, however, lack such a pedigree, having finished 13th in their debut season and 10th last year despite being in the top four midway through the season.
Adding to the pressure is the so-called "Bennett curse." Since 2008, every team coached by Wayne Bennett has seen their successor sacked within a few seasons. This includes notable names like Ivan Henjak at Brisbane, Steve Price at the Dragons, Rick Stone at Newcastle, Anthony Seibold at the Broncos, and Jason Demetriou at South Sydney. Woolf, who spent time under Bennett, is now tasked with breaking this cycle.
"It's going to persist while we're not winning and it's going to persist while we don't achieve things as a team," Woolf remarked, acknowledging the weight of the narrative surrounding the team. "You blokes love writing about it when we're not winning, and once we're winning, it'll go away, so it'll take care of itself." With the pressure mounting, Woolf understands that the only way to silence the critics is through results on the field.
To stand a chance against the Broncos, the Dolphins must address three key areas. First, their forwards need to rally around prop Daniel Saifiti, who was the only forward to run for more than 100 meters in last week's 30-18 loss to the Wests Tigers. Woolf emphasized the importance of this battle, saying, "That's a big battle this week. Their middle forwards are outstanding. (Payne) Haas, (Pat) Carrigan, and (Kobe) Hetherington do a really good job. We know the challenge and will be up for it. We didn't do a lot of running with the footy in the second half last week. That ties into beating ourselves."
Secondly, star fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow must step up and showcase his elite running game, which has yet to materialize this season. Woolf noted, "It's our responsibility as a team and mine as a coach to make sure we're getting him the ball in good positions. We haven't done a great job at that. We've done it in little bits but not consistently. He is ready to go and confident like everyone else. He has always got to look for work. We've got to make sure we're creating those opportunities for him." The Dolphins will need Tabuai-Fidow to find his rhythm to penetrate the Broncos' defense effectively.
Finally, Woolf expects his halves, Kodi Nikorima and Isaiya Katoa, to rise to the occasion in crucial moments. "I'm not going to put that all on our halves," he stated. "In all the games we've missed opportunities, they've created, and other blokes haven't quite finished them. Once we stop beating ourselves and take the opportunities we're creating, we're going to see results." The onus is on the entire team to support their playmakers and capitalize on scoring chances.
As the Dolphins prepare for this pivotal clash, the specter of the Bennett curse and the urgency to avoid an 0-4 start weigh heavily on their minds. With Woolf at the helm, the team is determined to rewrite their narrative and prove that they can rise above the challenges that have plagued them thus far. The upcoming match against the Broncos is not just another game; it is a defining moment for the Dolphins, their coach, and their fans.
In the world of sports, the pressure to perform can be overwhelming, especially when history is not on your side. The Dolphins will need to channel their energy into a cohesive and determined effort on the field if they hope to turn their season around. As fans eagerly await the outcome of the "Battle of Brisbane," one thing is clear: the Dolphins must confront their past and strive for a brighter future.
