The most successful NRL coach of all time, Wayne Bennett, joined a team of sporting legends in hosting a cocktail evening to raise funds for Chatswood Juniors Rugby Club, held at the Willoughby Hotel on Friday the 29th of June.

Current coach for the Newcastle Knights, Wayne Bennett headlined a number of personalities from a range of sports, including former Wallabies halfback Dominic Vaughan and Chief Handicapper for Racing NSW, Damien Hay. The night itself was a huge success with Wayne in particular proving very popular amongst guests. Renowned for his brusque, brief and often curt persona in front of the media, Bennett surprised many with his warmth, willingness and candour. Speaking for considerably longer than his allotted times, Wayne impressed with his honest assessment of the current state of the NRL, beliefs on man management and the trials and tribulations of being a public figure in today’s media environment. While Vaughn and Hay were somewhat lost in the limelight, their perspectives and attitudes in the Q&A sections proved to be enlightening and entertaining also.

Willoughby Hotel’s Venue Manager John McGurk Said; “This is a unique opportunity for our local sports fans to rub shoulders with sporting personalities and legends. It is sure to be an entertaining evening.”

Produced by Chatswood Junior Rugby Club and presented by Storage King Chatswood, the purpose of the evening was to raise funds for the Chatswood Juniors Rugby Club Under 11′s End of Season Rugby Tour. McGurk continued; “We are always glad to assist our local community groups with their fundraising activities. We have a strong relationship Chatswood Rugby Club and are proud to host this evening.”