The first time this columnist came across poet Peter Dale Wimbrow’s magnum opus, was when it featured in Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett’s first book – Don’t Die With The Music in You. 

I was 14, a league nut, a Broncos tragic and it’s no exaggeration to say I looked at the skinny coach with complete and utter reverence. I devoured that tidy little tome in a single sitting, lapping up the stories and philosophies on rugby league and life.

It was clear in that book, that Wimbrow’s poem had become the central credo to Bennett’s life. Indeed when he released his second book six years later, it was entitled: The Man in the Mirror. A lot has happened since that book went to press.

Bennett’s always said very little to the media, most often in a way that’s had us hanging off his every word. His seven premierships always said enough. It’s why seeing the mastercoach as we do now, engaging in petty media squabbles, jumping at shadows, shaking the bushes to see where the paparazzi are hiding is just plain sad.

The seven-time premiership winner’s poorly concealed disdain for the media throughout his career means there’s never any shortage of us pen pushers willing to weigh in with critcism when it’s warranted – and sometimes when it’s not – but this is not just another ‘let’s kick Wayne’ column. 

Recent stories suggesting he’s lost his aura, and his locker room, could well be well off the mark. The Broncos at present are hardly performing like a team that’s off their coach. But such stories never would have bothered Bennett before.

That was before the stories emerged of him reneging on handshake agreements to coach the Roosters, Souths and to return to the Dragons in 2015. Before a failed stint in Newcastle from which the Knights are still recovering. 

There’s the apparent vindictiveness with which he pursued the England coaching job after missing out on the Australian gig. One may make the argument that he’s a champion of the International game but he hardly conducted himself in ambassadorial fashion at last year’s Four Nations. His treatment of the British press – who aren’t pushing any of the agendas of the Australian media – was downright rude and unbecoming.

No one but the people involved know what goes on in the breakup of a marriage. Its not anyone’s place to judge – Kickoff certainly won’t – but there’s no doubt his new relationship has taken some further bark off his public image. The list of people he’s seemingly fallen out with continues to grow.

It’s just plain sad. Tall poppy syndrome in rugby league means we have few genuinely venerated figures in our game. But we always had Wayne – the mastercoach, the man through whom league-mad 14-year-old’s could find their moral compass within the game they love. 

It’s quite clear that Wayne still answers only to the man in the glass. But for the rest of us, that man is quickly fading in the rear-vision mirror.