NRL GOAT? Who makes the top 5 coaches of all time?

Who is the greatest NRL coach of all time?

The Boys of Summer, Jimmy Smith and Michael Carayannis, have made another massive Power Ranking, each calling their top five and the results might surprise you.

So, who do they believe has been the most influential leaders in the NRL to date?

See who Michael Carayannis chose as his top five picks:

5 – Trent Robinson, Sydney Roosters

“A three-time Premiership winner, coached a premiership in his first year, taking Premiership wins in back-to-back seasons, which was rare.”

4 – Ivan Cleary, Penrith Panthers, Wests Tigers

“An unprecedented, amazing journey. If he missed finals in 2020, he would have never coached again – he just needed to win to get the self-belief. A remarkable journey.”

3 – Tim Sheens, Penrith Panthers, Canberra Raiders, North Queensland Cowboys, Wests Tigers

“Great success at the Raiders, and a Premiership win at the West Tigers. He has amazing longevity as a coach, and he really revolutionised the game, with awesome attacking prowess.”

2 - Craig Bellamy, Brisbane Broncos, Melbourne Storm

“He is a modern genius; he’s got amazing longevity. His ability to rejuvenate the Storm after losing the Big Three was incredible, and he always finds a way to be the most consistent coach in Rugby League history.”

1 – Wayne Bennett, Southern Suburbs, Canberra Raiders, Brisbane Broncos, Newcastle Knights, St George Dragons, Dolphins

“He’s won seven Premierships, and he will go on to coach 1000 games. He’s chasing the ability to become the first coach to win three Premierships at three different clubs. I think he will finish his career at the South.”

See who Jimmy Smith chose as his frontrunners in NRL leadership so far:

5 – Ivan Cleary, Penrith Panthers, Wests Tigers

“A four-time premiership winning coach, 6 grand-finals, 57.1% winning percentage over extended career, and 479 games.”

4 – Arthur ‘Pony’ Halloway, Eastern Suburbs, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

“An eight-time Premiership winning Captain and Captain Coach across a 35-year coaching period.”

3 – Jack Gibson, Sydney Roosters, St George Dragons, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Parramatta Eels, Cronulla Sharks

“A five-time Premiership winner, who absolutely revolutionised the game. He had an emphasis on defence, and on bringing in innovation, especially via the NFL. He had a 62%-win rate across a 20-year period.”

2 – Wayne Bennett, Southern Suburbs, Canberra Raiders, Brisbane Broncos, Newcastle Knights, St George Dragons, Dolphins

“He coached 7 Premiership wins. He had incredible longevity over 15 years, with 960 games at over 60-win percentage – his games record will never be surpassed.”

1 – Craig Bellamy, Brisbane Broncos, Melbourne Storm

“He won six grand finals and lost six – so he’s making grand finals. His longevity is extraordinary, with a win percentage just a tick under 70%. He has an incredible ability to find the best out of every single player.”

Special mentions:

“Michael Maguire, Trent Robinson, Tim Sheens.”