Wayne Bennett has dismissed critics of his decision to play Corey Oates in Friday night’s NRL preliminary final in Melbourne a week after the Brisbane winger’s sickening on-field collision.
Bennett confirmed Oates would start against the Storm along with skipper Darius Boyd (hamstring) just days after the lanky flyer was knocked unconscious and taken from the field in a medi-cab in their semi-final win over Penrith.
Bennett bristled when it was suggested the coach had pressured Oates to play the grand final qualifier.
“There has never been pressure on any players to play with me here,” he said.
“It was in the hands of the doctor, the doctor’s made a decision, it is now in Corey’s hands whether he wants to play and he wants to play and that is the way it will be.
“The doctor has cleared him to play and he is confident he can play – that’s all I need to know.”
Bennett said he didn’t care if he copped any criticism over playing Oates.
“One thing I know is that they will never build a statue for critics,” he said.
“Fortunately, I don’t listen to them.
“There is no one more concerned about the players’ welfare than this club so I am not really interested in anyone’s opinion.”
Bennett had also been sweating on fullback Boyd.
The skipper is mourning the death of his beloved grandmother this week while on the comeback trail from a two week hamstring injury.
However, Bennett expected Boyd to bring “experience and calmness” to the Broncos against the runaway favourites.
“He will have the right mindset. He has handled it well and has all our support – he will be good,” Bennett said of his captain’s emotional week.
Bennett gave the whole squad a clean bill of health despite Joe Ofahengaue giving the Broncos an injury scare at training in Thursday.
Bench impact forward Ofahengaue was sidelined icing his calf during the final session but was later cleared.
Bennett was unfazed by their woeful record against Melbourne, winning just four of their last 23 games.
“There is a lot more to this team yet. I just have to get it out of them,” Bennett said.
“We are not a dour footy team. We will be chancing our arm and hopefully make the passes stick.”
