Mal: Why Hook has the wood on Wayne

Griffin has an envious record against the man who took his Broncos job back in 2014.

Affectionately dubbed “Hook”, Griffin has the best winning percentage of any coach against seven-time premiership winner Bennett, dropping just two out of 11 games.

Bennett wouldn’t bite when asked what was Griffin’s best asset ahead of their sudden death clash at Suncorp Stadium.

“I don’t know, I haven’t coached him,” Bennett deadpanned.

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Kangaroos coach Meninga says there are several reasons behind Griffin’s dominant record over Bennett.

Bennett’s 18.2 per cent winning record against Griffin is his worst against any coach he has faced more than five times.

“Wayne also coached the Dragons and Knights so that comes into calculations and Griffin was coach of Brisbane who have always been a highly successful team,” Meninga told Fox Sports.

“But I also think teams that beat the Broncos are well coached on their tackle technique and that’s where the Broncos have the most difficulty. Griffin understands that.

“That’s why Melbourne always have the tendency to beat the Broncos, because they win the ruck area.”

Brisbane winger Jordan Kahu was wary of Griffin’s inside knowledge gleaned from his four-season Broncos stint, which ended in 2014 with Bennett’s return to Red Hill.

“He spent a lot of time with a lot of our players and probably knows what we are good at and works well for us — he will try and combat that,” Kahu said.

Bennett and Griffin have only met once before in a finals match.

Griffin’s Broncos pipped Bennett’s St George Illawarra 13-12 in 2011 thanks to Darren Lockyer’s 82nd-minute field goal in what turned out to be his 355th and final NRL match.