South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett has revealed the only moment in his rugby league career when he wanted to quit the game that has been his life.

He has also shared the motto that he lives and dies by in a professional sense. Bennett was interviewed by Ben Ikin at a charity lunch at Doltone House in Hyde Park to support Di Langmack’s cancer research organisation, Cure the Future Foundation. Phil Gould also gave a stirring speech about leadership in an off the cuff talk that left the crowd in awe.

Alex McKinnon and Wayne Bennett at a press conference for the Rise for Alex Round in 2014. Credit: Kate Geraghty

Bennett opened up about Alex McKinnon, and the tackle in a match against Melbourne in 2014 which left the Knights forward a quadriplegic. It changed the player’s life and led to Bennett, who coached the Knights over three seasons, contemplating everything.

“That was the worst thing that happened to me in rugby league,” he said.

“On every trip away I always took the player home. There was a point for a week or two where I didn’t want to coach any more. I didn’t feel I had it in me, but I had to work through that process.

“I remember at half-time the doctor said it was not good. I remember being awake at four in the morning thinking I had no compassion, but I realised later on in life that I had to be strong for everyone else.

Wayne Bennett attempts to focus his troops after the emotion of Rise for Alex Round in Newcastle.Credit: Getty

“My players were a mess. I think the worst moment for me personally was the following morning when we flew his parents in and we went back to the hospital and he was all wired up. Twelve hours before he was full of life. I walked in the room with his parents and that was really sad.

“He handled it so bravely. He made it easy for all of us and the way he is handling it today. I did break down three or four days after that. I was in a shitty place after it. But I came out of it.”

Bennett credited a Christian brothers teacher in grade 5 at school for setting the tone for his life.

“He cared about everybody in class and his favourite line was, ‘if I did not challenge you then I failed you’, and I coach like he taught us in grade 5,” he said. “We are all equals. He treated us all the same. He had a huge influence.”

The seven-time NRL premiership-winning coach also spoke about the importance of choosing the right player, assistant or staff member.

“My biggest fear is choosing the wrong person,” he said. “I’ve got a person, now I’ve got to find a way to move that person. I’m not going to read your CV because I’ve done that many references for people I don’t like. So I’ll ring someone in the business and check you out.

“I would rather work with 10 guys who are doing their best, than 13 or 15 who don’t give a shit. You won’t be part of my life. And if you employ too many they sit and bitch about you all day because they’ve got nothing to do. They all think they can do the job better than you.”

Bennett sat at a table opposite Papua New Guinea Chiefs chairman........

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