NRL getting like soccer: Bennett

The NRL is getting more like English soccer when it comes to the treatment of coaches, according to Wayne Bennett.

The veteran mentor’s assertion comes in the wake of sackings this week of Manly’s Geoff Toovey and Bennett’s former assistant at Newcastle, Rick Stone, who was axed by the Knights last Monday.

Toovey’s side demolished Bennett’s competition leaders Brisbane 44-14 in Gosford on Saturday night and the supercoach was quick to show his support for the former Manly halfback.

“We’re certainly getting more like English soccer, I know that much … where the managers get replaced pretty often,” he said.

“The best clubs and the most successful clubs are the ones that have the most stable organisation.”

Bennett said he couldn’t see Toovey coaching anywhere else in the NRL straight away.

“I saw him get interviewed the other day … he has a great attachment to Manly and I think that will be the difficult part … not wanting to be a part of them,” he said.

“But he also made the point that needs a bit of time away from the game, so that will probably sort him out.”

Toovey became just the sixth coach in Manly’s history to coach 100 first grade matches, winning 58 of his games in charge.

He joined Bob Fulton (305), Des Hasler (206) Ron Willey (139), Frank Stanton (123) and Wally O’Connell (100) in the elite group.

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