Wayne Bennett

Who is Wayne Bennett?

Wayne James Bennett AM is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player who is the current head coach for the Newcastle Knights of the NRL. An Australian international and Queensland interstate representative winger or fullback of the 1970s, he also worked as a Queensland Police officer before becoming a Brisbane Rugby League premiership-winning coach, and in the 1980s earned selection as Queensland's State of Origin coach. After starting his NSWRL Premiership coaching career with the Canberra Raiders, in 1988 Bennett was appointed the inaugural coach of the new Brisbane Broncos club, later winning six premierships with them, and in 1998 was first selected to coach the Australian national team. He has since coached the St. George Illawarra Dragons and Newcastle Knights, and set Australian coaching records for most grand final wins and most seasons with a single club.