Queensland rugby league icon Wayne Bennet will be inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame, in the first year that coaches have been added to the list.
The National Rugby League (NRL) announced that the current Dolphins mentor and Jack Gibson would be the first ever coaches to be inducted.
The NRL has also announced that administrators Ken Arthurson and John Quayle would be inducted into the Hall of Fame as Contributors, alongside broadcasters Frank Hyde and David Morrow.
ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys AM said it was an historic moment for the game to recognise the extraordinary contribution of two legendary coaches.
Bennett is the longest serving coach in the game’s history, having coached 933 games through a career with Canberra (1987), Brisbane (1988-2008 and 2015-18), St George Illawarra (2009-11), Newcastle (2012-14), South Sydney (2019-21) and the Dolphins (2023-24).
He has coached for 37 seasons at premiership level, winning seven premiership titles; six with Brisbane Broncos (1992-93, 1997-98, 2000 and 2006) and one with St George Illawarra (2010).
Bennett coached Queensland to seven State of Origin series wins from 25 games (1986-88, 1998, 2001, 2003 and 2020), while also coaching Australia (1998 and 2004-05), England (2016-18) and Great Britain (2019). He was also coaching advisor with New Zealand when the Kiwis won the World Cup in 2008.
Gibson won five premiership titles as a Coach with Eastern Suburbs (1974-75) and Parramatta (1981-83). He won 245 of 394 games as first grade coach for a winning percentage of 62.2. He also coached New South Wales in 1989-90, claiming a series victory in 1990.
Gibson’s career at Premiership level spanned 20 years; he coached Eastern Suburbs (1967-68 and 1974-76), St George (1970-71), Newtown (1973), South Sydney (1978-79), Parramatta (1981-83) and Cronulla (1985-87).
“Wayne is the ultimate people manager. He has the rare ability to get the best of a player, no matter their background,’ Mr V’landys said.
“Players who come from hard times or players who have everything, Wayne takes them to another level. He can make every player the most important in the team. He has a rare presence that gains the attention of all demographics.”
The formal inductions will be made in a special ceremony on Wednesday, August 21, at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
