Ghost of Bennett not haunting Henjak

AAP | 17/11/08 | 0

There was something missing when the Brisbane Broncos started their official pre-season training at Queensland University on Monday.

The tall, wiry, fit figure in a ragged Broncos cap was nowhere to be seen although there was an eerie feeling the ghost of Wayne Bennett was lurking somewhere as the players went through a series of speed and agility and skin fold tests.

For the first time in 21 years Bennett was elsewhere.

Instead, Ivan Henjak -- much shorter in stature and a few premierships lighter as a senior NRL coach -- took control of the Broncos class of '09 from the legend who left him the legacy, or pressure, of having made the last 17 straight finals series.

Asked if he felt Bennett was still "hanging around somewhere" a smiling Henjak said: "I haven't felt that this morning, no".

"He might be hovering around somewhere, but I haven't felt it".

"It's probably going to brought up a fair bit but he's gone and I think we've all moved on and it's a new time.

"It's going to be a little bit different for some people because they've been used to having him here for their whole careers.

"I'm sure the players will embrace whatever changes are introduced but their relationships with Wayne will still go on, nothing changes there.

"But I don't think there's too much thought into Wayne not being around the place."

Henjak said the club was proud of its record of consecutive finals appearances under Bennett, something he wanted to continue under his coaching.

"It is something the club is very proud of and I'm quite conscious off," Bennett's former assistant said.

"But it's certainly not the thing that's going to be burning in the back of my mind or adding that pressure to every game or every time we turn up to work.

"It's something we're conscious off but it won't be the main thing that is going to drive us either."

Newly recruited hooker Aaron Gorrell got the jump on teammate P.J. Marsh who missed the club's first training session after a tree fell on his house during Sunday's wild storm.

A battered Steve Michaels, recovering from knee surgery, turned up with his right arm in a cast as well.

He underwent wrist surgery, a screw inserted to mend a broken bone.

It's probably going to brought up a fair bit but he's gone and I think we've all moved on and it's a new time... Ivan Henjak