NRL Hall of Fame inductee Wayne Bennett has paid tribute to the late coaching mastermind Ron Massey, who he rang at least once each week for 30 years and credits for providing him with immeasurable wisdom.
"Ron Massey won’t be in the Hall of Fame, but he helped men like me get in the Hall of Fame because of what he gave us," Bennett told AAP.
"He had a great brain and was a wonderful man. In my coaching life I would have rung him at least once a week. I was very lucky he befriended me."
Dolphins coach Bennett, who has won seven premierships as a coach, joined five-time premiership winner Jack Gibson as the first coaches to be inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame.
Massey, who died in 2016, was Gibson's right-hand man in title wins at Eastern Suburbs (1974-75) and Parramatta (1981-83), then joined him at Cronulla. The pair were inseparable and loyal mates.
Bennett was recommended to Brisbane's inaugural directors by Gibson as the man to coach the side in 1988, less than a year after a pivotal meeting with Massey.
Bennett was co-coach of the Raiders in 1987 and his first assignment was against Gibson's Sharks.
"When I went to Canberra is when Ron befriended me," Bennett recalled.
"Jack and Ron were coaching Cronulla and they turned up for the first game I coached in Canberra.
"There was a function. Jack was the guest speaker and I sat with Ron. I’d never met him before and I was very fortunate he took a liking to me. As I was leaving the room he said, ‘Here is my phone number. If you ever want to talk about football Wayne, give me a ring.'
"I was so privileged. I spoke to him at least once every week for the rest of his life and maybe more.
"Every grand final I coached, Ron was in the coaching box with me. He had retired at that stage."
Bennett said the friendship between Massey and Gibson left an indelible mark.
"I did ask Ron once why he stayed with Jack because he could have been a head coach himself. He said they were genuine friends and he just wanted to help Jack," Bennett said.
"They trusted each other enormously. Jack has the charisma and the vibe, and Ron has the work ethic and smarts.
"I wasn’t the only person Ron mentored and helped.
"He was great for Paul Gallen and helped Ricky Stuart at some stages. The Parramatta guys like Mick Cronin loved him.
"Ron was great for John Quayle when he was at the Roosters. John, who became CEO of the game, was great friends with him. John was like me. He relied on Ron and trusted him. He never lied to you and never had a bad idea.
“Ron was a fun guy to be around, a great host and just a great friend."
Bennett's connection to Gibson through Massey is a fascinating back-story to the Hall of Fame induction, but the master coach had other wonderful mentors, none more so than the late Bob Bax, the first Brisbane "supercoach".
Bax won nine Brisbane Rugby League titles with Brothers and Norths in the 1950s and 1960s.
"Bob Bax was great for me as well," Bennett said.
"He was a wonderful coach who helped me enormously. I learned so much from him and Ron ... just so much from both of them."
