Wayne James Bennett, also known as Benny, is an Australian rugby union coach and former high-performance player.
He has an extensive coaching career having managed teams such as the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Brisbane Broncos, Newcastle Knights, St George Illawarra Dragons, Canberra Raiders, Queensland Maroons, NRL All Stars and Australian Kangaroos.
He is currently the head coach of the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL). His expertise and leadership are also sought after worldwide as he has coached the England and Great Britain national teams.
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- Full Name: Wayne James Bennett
- Stage Name: Benny
- Date of birth: January 1, 1950
- Age: 74 years old
- Place of birth: Allora, Australia
- Australian citizenship
- Occupation: Australian rules football coach and former player
- Height: 1.91 m
- Parents: Patricia Bennett
- Siblings: Dwight Bennett, Gretta Bennett, Bob Bennett and Michelle Bennett
- Spouse: Trish Veivers (married 1974–2016) and Dale Cage (2016–)
- Children: Justin Bennett, Katherine Bennett and Elizabeth Bennett
- Relationship: Married
- Net worth: $3 million
Early life and education
Wayne James Bennett, also known as Benny, was born on January 1, 1950 in Allora, Australia. He was raised by his mother, Patricia Bennett, and grew up with his siblings Dwight Bennett, Gretta Bennett, Bob Bennett, and Michelle Bennett.
His love of music inspired Bennett to pursue a Bachelor of Music with a concentration in Music Education at the University of Georgia, where he studied under the guidance of former Canadian trumpeter Fred Mills.
His talent and hard work paid off as he reached the semi-finals in the Men’s Solo category of the National Trumpet Competition four times.
Career
Wayne James Bennett, also known as Benny, had an illustrious career both playing and coaching rugby union. He started out as a talented winger and goalkicker, representing Queensland nine times and playing two matches for Australia.
Prior to pursuing a coaching career, he played for teams such as Warwick, Toowoomba and Past Brothers and achieved his greatest success with Southern Suburbs in the Brisbane Rugby League (BRL).
Under the guidance of coach Bob Bax, Bennett’s true potential as a coach was discovered and nurtured, leading him to the legendary status he holds today.
Wayne James Bennett had a successful and illustrious coaching career in rugby union. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in the history of the sport, having achieved many successes throughout his career.
Bennett holds the record for most NRL grand final wins, with seven wins and 10 grand final appearances. He also won a BRL premiership with Southern Suburbs in 1985.
During his coaching career, Bennett has worked with a variety of teams, including the Canberra Raiders, Brisbane Broncos, St George Illawarra Dragons, Newcastle Knights and South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Awards and appointments
- Premiership wins: He holds the record for the most grand final wins by an Australian rugby union coach with an impressive total of seven across various competitions:
- One with Brisbane Rugby League’s Southern Suburbs (1985)
- Six times with the Brisbane Broncos in Super League and NRL (including 1997 World Club Championship)
- One with St. George Illawarra Dragons (2010)
- Coach of the Year Dally M: He won this prestigious award in 2015 while coaching the Brisbane Broncos.
- Recognition:
- Inducted into the Australian Sports Hall of Fame
- Considered one of the greatest coaches in rugby league history
Social Media
Wayne James Bennett’s social media accounts are currently unknown.
Personal life
Wayne James Bennett, also known as Benny, has been married to Trish Bennett for 42 years. They have three children together, two of whom are disabled.
Despite his public image as a devoted family man, their relationship ended in 2016. Bennett then began a new relationship with Dale Cage, who is 22 years his junior.
This caused controversy and backlash due to the breakdown of his long-term marriage. Although they have separated, Bennett remains legally married to Trish. He has expressed regret over the way their marriage ended and is currently in a relationship with Dale Cage.
Net asset value
Wayne James Bennett, also known as Benny, is an Australian rugby union coach and highly successful former player. He had an extensive coaching career, winning seven premierships and is inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame.
Despite his success, Bennett’s estimated net worth is only $3 million, which is relatively low compared to other successful coaches. However, his real wealth lies in his legacy and impact on rugby union.
