Bennett lures former Test star out of wilderness

2 years ago 95

Wayne Bennett has rounded out his Dolphins coaching sheet connected the cusp of pre-season grooming by signing erstwhile NRL pugnacious seed Nathan Fien arsenic an assistant.

Coach Bennett volition beryllium assisted by Fien and Tonga World Cup mentor Kristian Woolf successful the Dolphins' inaugural play successful the NRL.

Fien was a subordinate of the Queensland State of Origin squad that bushed New South Wales successful the 2001 bid nether the guidance of Bennett.

Nine years later, Bennett was manager and Fien a seat subordinate arsenic the Dragons defeated the Roosters successful the 2010 NRL expansive final.

Fien has coached successful the Illawarra portion implicit the past six years.

"Nathan is simply a young manager with a large aboriginal and has first-hand acquisition with Wayne's benignant of coaching," said Dolphins main enforcement Terry Reader.

"It is besides advantageous that helium is simply a Queenslander and understands the agelong past of the Dolphins and what it means for the nine to ascend to the NRL.

"We present person Nathan and Kristian successful spot to assistance our caput coach, and a world-class show and shot absorption squad successful presumption to enactment them.

"We are looking guardant to the opening of pre-season grooming successful conscionable a fewer weeks and are excited that our debut successful the NRL is moving person each day."

Fien played 276 NRL games with the Cowboys, Warriors and Dragons betwixt 2000 and 2013, splitting his clip betwixt hooker, five-eighth and halfback.

He besides made 22 Test appearances for New Zealand aft qualifying nether residential rules portion playing for the Warriors.

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