When Wayne Bennett talks, you listen.
So when Bennett hails Knights back-rower Beau Scott the form forward of the NRL competition after six rounds of the season, you know it’s a comment that holds weight.
Scott has been outstanding in the opening weeks and he continued that standard in the Club’s gutsy win over Canberra on Saturday.
The Picton-born enforcer suffered a cork in the first half, but pushed on in a courageous effort that typified the Knights’ resolve in their 14-point victory.
“He (Beau) is the form player in the comp, in terms of forwards," Bennett said in the post match press conference.
“He has been outstanding every game. I think he has won four players’ player this season.
"And he got a cork there before halftime today and he guts it right out in the second half.”
Bennett is first to admit his side has lacked resolve for the majority of the season, but he couldn't have been happier to see it return against the Raiders.
"That’s what we needed to do and it’s what we haven’t done really well," he concedes.
"But today they wanted to do that and that’s been the difference.
"My job is to coach and coach with what you’ve got sometimes.
"You can’t think about what you don’t have.
"But with him (Mullen) and Darius out for an extended period of time, there’s no doubt the positions they play and difference those positions had on the game today, we lost a fair bit.
"But we had to get on with life, we did that and now it's just good to have them back."
Asked about Mullen's first match since tearing his left hamstring in the inaugural NRL Auckland Nines in February, Bennett said he was thrilled with the playmakers contribution.
From a pinpoint kicking game through to his organisational skills, the veteran mentor knows how vital his No.6 is to the team's fortunes going forward.
"He (Jarrod) was really good today and we do need him back, there’s no doubt about that," he says.
"Maybe I’ve been a bit of a hard taskmaster with them.
"Darius has only been back two weeks as well and they are obviously great players in the team and we can see what they bring.
"We’ve been doing that for four weeks without those blokes and that probably didn’t help our course."
Bennett, meanwhile, confirmed Kade Snowden and Kurt Gidley were fine after leaving the field in the second half with head knocks.
He said both players would be closely monitored this week, but remained confident they would be fine to take their place against the Brisbane Broncos at Hunter Stadium on Friday night.
