Wayne Bennett in brutal spray at Dolphins players amid response to NRL rule change

Wayne Bennett is determined to get his Dolphins squad in top shape before the NRL season kicks off, with the veteran coach delivering a trademark spray to his players in training. The veteran mentor's fury came over his side's response to an NRL rule tweak relating to the long-standing "downtown" rule.

Changes introduced this year will see greater scrutiny placed on chasers from the attacking team rushing downfield prematurely when they know a teammate is about to put a kick in. NRL head of football Graham Annesley said recently that it meant chasers "have to stay at least level with the ruck until then". Under previous rules, players could be well in front of their own kicker provided they were not within 10 metres of the opposition player when he picks up the footy.

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The tweak to the rule will mean chasers now have to wait until the ball goes past their head before they race downfield to put pressure on the kick returner. Bennett had an official referee on hand to adjudicate whether his players were adhering to the new rule tweak at training and reportedly let rip at his players for failing to adapt to the change.

Bennett is known for being a disciplinarian and hates when his sides give away penalties so it's perhaps no surprise that the master coach reacted in the way he did. The Dolphins coach will be drumming attention to detail into his side before Sunday evening's Pre-season Challenge showdown against Queensland rivals Gold Coast.

The Dolphins will be hoping to improve on last year's impressive debut NRL campaign in what will be Bennett's final season at the helm. The Dolphins were favoured by many to collect the wooden spoon but defied those predictions to give themselves a shot at making the finals. Ultimately though, injuries and a lack of depth cost them as the Dolphins lost seven straight games towards the back end of the season, before finishing above four other clubs in 13th.

Euan Aitken shines in training for Dolphins

While Bennett did give his players a rocket at training, he also dished out some praise to versatile forward Euan Aitken for his outstanding defensive work. The former Dragons centre will play second-row in Sunday's game against the Titans on the Sunshine Coast, although that position will be a hotly contested one at the Dolphins in 2024.

Aitken conceded Bennett's spray for the players was warranted and admitted they are still adjusting to the new 'downtown' rule tweak. "We are just getting used to the downtown rule. It is something we have to prepare for when it comes to match time," Aitken said.

"He (Bennett) demands respect, Wayne. Everyone has got all ears for him. He gives great advice and is a very knowledgeable coach. When he talks everyone listens." Aitken has been training at centre and second-row in the pre-season, with his high levels of fitness and effort at training not going unnoticed within the squad.

"I want to get a spot for round one and Wayne has been pretty happy with how I have been training," he said. "(Intensity) has gone up two-fold at training. We are fitter than last year and it is a better squad than last year, and that is only going to make us go better than last year."

Dolphins fans will get their first look at gun recruits and former Broncos stars Herbie Farnworth (centre) and Thomas Flegler (prop), who have both been named to start in Sunday's match against the Titans. Bennett has also picked NRL regulars Isaiya Katoa and Sean O'Sullivan to start in the halves, with Queensland forward Tom Gilbert playing his first game since last year's shoulder surgery.

with AAP

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