MARK ‘SPUDD’ CARROLL: How Kristian Woolf overcame Wayne Bennett curse to make Dolphins NRL final contenders

Canberra’s Ricky Stuart will probably claim this year’s Dally M coach of the year but the Dolphins’ Kristian Woolf has done something no coach has achieved in nearly 40 years – succeed after the legendary Wayne Bennett.

After four straight losses to start the season, Woolf - in first year as head coach - and the Dolphins have won nine from 18 games and looked headed for finals footy.

There has been a long-held theory in rugby league that following Bennett was like batting after Bradman.

Many have tried, all have collapsed – except for Woolf, who took over at Redcliffe from Bennett after last season.

And to taste success this season, Woolf has had to overcome a horror injury toll that includes Felise Kaufusi, Mark Nicholls, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, Kodi Nikorima, Thomas Flegler, Tom Gilbert, Max Plath, Daniel Saifiti and Jack Bostock,

That would have to be $3.5m to $4m worth of the club’s salary cap sitting on the sidelines.

Yet through it all, Woolf has somehow cobbled together a team chock full of speed and excitement.

And can’t the ‘Phins’ entertain!

I can’t recall a side in recent years that has the same ability to score a long range try.

This mob sizzles with speed and doesn’t play within the same predictable structures of the other NRL clubs.

Put bluntly, they are a pleasure to watch.

The Dolphins have scored 533 points in 18 games – that’s an average of nearly 30 points a game.

Just extraordinary.

Woolf has firmly and finally laid to rest the suggestion that the man who follows Bennett can’t attain success.

Wouldn’t Bennett love some of Woolf’s success at South Sydney this season?

Woolf did his time as an NRL assistant and coached in Super League before finally taking over as head coach of an NRL side.

It appears his timing has been immaculate.

He is now mature and calm amid the rigours and chaos of NRL coaching.

Stuart has been simply amazing this season too.

His highly-flying Raiders are surging towards the NRL minor premiership – an achievement few thought possible heading into round one.

Many had Canberra hovering around the finals this year but I don’t think anyone really had the Raiders leading the competition after 20 rounds.

You cannot help but love Ricky’s passion.

He feels every tackle and takes every bomb when taking up his usual coaching position on the sidelines.

I don’t think rugby league has ever had a more emotional coach than Ricky.

Some in the game don’t believe Canberra can stand up in the big games later this season but I disagree.

The Raiders are young, precocious and have a nothing-to-lose attitude.

Woolf and Stuart are vastly different characters and personalities but both have tipped this NRL competition on its head.

And you know what?

I wouldn’t want to be playing either of them come the semi-finals in September.