WAYNE Bennett once said the Brisbane Broncos’ policy was to develop local talent and, if required to recruit from outside, buy only the best.
That was 2007 when the Broncos were defending premiers.
It no longer applies.
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The Broncos have not won a premiership since then, and the club’s ability to entice the best talent from the Queensland junior leagues has fallen behind superior programs at both Melbourne and North Queensland.
So when James Roberts became available, despite being sacked from two clubs and Bennett already having pledged a centre position to Dale Copley, Copley was out the door and Roberts was in.
A similar shift in stance came for Matt Lodge, whose history is well documented.
It is an example of what pressure can do.
And so Bennett fosters a siege mentality at the club.
The woeful form of the Broncos in round one wasn’t his fault. It wasn’t the fault of players. Nor was it the fault of the club’s recruitment policies.
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Blaming the Broncos early season dramas on us pesky rascals in the media was first class media spin.
And it shows how Bennett is himself the most under-pressure man at the Broncos.
It shows how Bennett is fighting to save his job.
