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Important SN update for Southland“He’s the only man”: Why Johns is backing Bennett for PNG gig
Nicholas Quinlan • June 27th, 2025 2:57 pm
Matty Johns believes South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett is the best man suited to be the inaugural coach of the PNG team when they enter the NRL in 2028.
With the NRL having officially announced the board of the PNG team on Tuesday, attention has now turned to the hiring of other off-field positions, such as the head coach.
If Bennett takes on the role, it would be the third time in his 38-year coaching career that he would be an inaugural coach of an NRL/NSWRL side, having done so with the Brisbane Broncos and the Dolphins, as well as the seventh NRL club he has coached.
Despite his experience, there are doubts about his capabilities, considering he would also be 78 years old by the time Round 1, 2028, comes about, as noted by SEN’s Corey Parker.
Speaking on the topic, Johns is under the impression that given all the extras involved in the PNG side, including all the players living together within a gated community, it requires someone who is able to manage personal relationships well alongside delivering success on the field, which Bennett can do.
“In my opinion, he’s the only man for the job,” Johns stated on SEN’s Morning Glory with Matty Johns.
“Because this position has got so much more to do than just coaching.
“The thing about it is, you have families and players living in each other’s pockets continually. It’s going to be a massive job for the coach.
“And as I said before, Wayne is the only one that could actually make it joyous.”
The Australian's Andrew Webster would be in some agreement with Johns.
He used the example of how the 'Supercoach' was able to navigate the Covid-affected 2021 season, which has some similarities in living situations with the gated community that is planned to be built for the players.
“It’s almost like Covid conditions,” Webster said.
“And Wayne, in that year of 2021, got his team (South Sydney) into the grand final, and that was always the talk of that season, remember?
“Whichever coach could coach the families and the players getting on together for the space of the year (would have success), and that's what it’s going to be.”
While Bennett would be available to coach the first season, he is contracted with South Sydney till the end of 2027.
This would likely mean that if he is to take the job, he would need to leave Souths in 2026 to be able to build the team during 2027 to be ready for 2028.
