NRL: Milestone game for legendary coach

Wayne Bennett's 600th NRL game sees praise for a mentor whose gift is self-belief. Photo / Getty Images

BRISBANE: Darren Lockyer knew exactly who to turn to when confronted with the daunting job of taking over the Australian captaincy in 2003.

With Andrew Johns injured, Gorden Tallis announcing retirement and several big-name players pulling out, Lockyer was thrust into the hot seat for the 2003 Kangaroos tour.

Lockyer confided his fears to Wayne Bennett, received the assurances only someone like Bennett could give, and has been Australia's captain for the past seven years.

It was one of many calls Bennett - who coaches his 600th NRL game against long-time rival Brian Smith in Sydney tomorrow - has received from players seeking his valued opinion.

He becomes the second man to reach the milestone after Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens, the veteran with a record 382 wins at a phenomenal strike rate of 63 per cent.

When asked the role Bennett played in his decision, Lockyer said: "We had an Australian team going over [to Britain] with a lot of big names pulling out so there was a lot of pressure on.

"I was nervous. I feared failure. I sought Wayne out for his opinion and how I should approach it. He gave me the confidence to take the job and told me to just be myself.

"You hear a lot of players say Wayne gets the best out of you, that's what he does, he gives you confidence.

"He makes you believe in yourself, that's one of his greatest strengths."

Bennett was behind Lockyer's shift from fullback, where he was the world's best player in 2004, to five-eighth - a gamble which proved a godsend for Queensland, helping them turn around their Origin fortunes.

"After the 2000 grand final we'd had early exits for three years and Queensland's halves, after Alfie [Allan Langer] and Kevvie [Kevin Walters] left, were struggling," said Lockyer, who shared in four of Bennett's six premierships with the Broncos.

"Karmichael [Hunt] came along and I was ready for a new challenge."

Soon too was Bennett, who left the Broncos at the end of 2008 after 21 years at the club to take on one of rugby league's toughest asks - delivering a premiership to an increasingly impatient St George Illawarra faithful.

But the change of scenery didn't change the aura, as noted by Dragons fullback Darius Boyd, who followed Bennett to Wollongong.

"A few of the boys when I first came down to the Dragons, they wouldn't say boo," recalled Boyd, who credits Bennett for much of his success.

"Now they know what he's like and they know they can have a joke and a laugh with him, it's very different.

"It's still funny seeing people outside the footy group introduce themselves and be in awe of him."

Bennett's demeanour can take some getting used to, as Langer discovered before the two eventually shared in some magnificent victories for Brisbane and Queensland.

"I'm still dirty with him from an under-18 possibles/probables trial.

"He sent me out with five minutes left and I didn't want to go out. I broke my ankle, so he cost me a spot in the Queensland Under-18 side.

"The next year he tried to get me to Souths in Brisbane and said 'you'll probably get a run in C grade' so I brushed him.

"We're all good critics at times, but yeah, I had to prove to Wayne I could play."

Bennett pulled off one of State of Origin's greatest masterstrokes in 2001, flying Langer back mid-season from the UK to lead Queensland to a series' deciding win over NSW.

"Wayne didn't drink or smoke but he got drunk on the atmosphere whenever his players won big games, said Langer.

Lockyer described Bennett as a thinking coach who worked very hard to improve himself, but his players always came first.

"As time goes on people will look back in the history books and marvel at what Wayne achieved."

- AAP