“I hate it”: Why Rogers isn’t in favour of Bennett’s Hall of Fame induction whilst coaching

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett and legendary mentor Jack Gibson have made history in rugby league, becoming the first coaches to be inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame.

The two are widely renowned as the greatest coaches of all time and had been viewed as probable Hall of Famers for several years.

Gibson coached his final game of professional rugby league in 1990, whilst Bennett is currently in his 37th season at the helm of an NRL club.

The timing of Bennett’s induction into the Hall of Fame didn’t sit well with NRL great Mat Rogers, who questioned the thinking behind it.

“He’s still coaching, it is absolutely ridiculous,” Rogers said on SEN 1170 Sportsday.

“Of course (he is one of the greatest coaches of all time), he will be in the Hall of Fame but to put him in the Hall of Fame when he’s still (coaching), are we going to put DCE (Daly Cherry-Evans) in this year?

“He’s a Hall of Fame player DCE, he’ll be there, 'Let’s put him in the Hall of Fame right now'. What about Nathan Cleary, he’s just won three premierships in a row?

“I hate it, absolutely hate it, let their career end, let it breathe a little then honour their career at the Hall of Fame, he probably won’t even show up because he’s got a team to coach.

“What an absolute joke.”

Bennett has signed on for a 38th season of top-level coaching when he rejoins the South Sydney Rabbitohs at the conclusion of this season.

“I just can’t believe how blatantly wrong the NRL gets it sometimes, this is a joke, I’m so off the bit about it, it is ridiculous,” Rogers continued.

“Cam Smith (will be a Hall of Famer) why isn’t he in it this year? He’ll probably be an Immortal which I think is wrong again.

“You don’t go into a Hall of Fame when you’re still in your career, that is not how it works.”

Bennett and Gibson will headline the 2024 class of NRL Hall of Famers, who will be officially inducted on Wednesday, August 21.