Where “super-coach” Wayne Bennett goes, fellow Queenslander Scott Barker follows. But just who is this 30-something performance analyst who has been Bennett’s right hand man for more than decade? And how did he become the 67-year-old’s trusted confidant?
The tale begins in 2000 when Barker was just a student at the University of the Sunshine Coast. While studying for a bachelor of sport and exercise science, he reportedly wrote a letter to Bennett. At that point Bennett was 12 years into his reign at the Brisbane Broncos and had already won four premierships. His legendary status was confirmed.
The coach has recounted previously his first introduction to Barker. “He turned up day after day, with no promise of a job or payment of any kind,” Bennett said. “He was willing to do all the jobs no-one else wanted to do. This probably stood out to me the most.”
Bennett was impressed by Barker’s work-ethic and determination. From initially holding tackle shields at training at Red Hill and carrying out menial tasks, Barker eventually worked his way on to the coach’s staff. For seven years he served as the Broncos video analyst, editing and chopping up footage from matches. In 2002 he joined Bennett’s back-room staff with the Queensland State of Origin team, working under Mal Meninga for three years after Bennett stepped away.
In 2005 he assisted the coaching set-up of the French national team. For three years he worked under head coach John Monie, another Australian, who was in charge of Les Tricolores. Barker’s reputation as an innovator, as someone with an intricate knowledge of the game, of how players could improve themselves and as someone who embraced cutting-edge technology, grew. Towards the end of 2008 he rebuffed the advances of then North Queensland boss Neil Henry and headed south with Bennett to St George Illawarra.
The Dragons famously ended their 31-year wait for another grand final win in 2010. Bennett and his staff had finally returned them to the glory days. But after one more season at the joint-venture he was gone, headed to the Hunter to join the Nathan Tinkler revolution at Newcastle. And accompanying him once again, almost like an off-field version of fullback Darius Boyd, was Barker. When Tinkler’s Knights dream went bust in 2014, Bennett and Barker went north back to the Broncos.
Last year Bennett said of his valuable assistant: “Scott showed he was never afraid to try new things to improve the performance of the team or player. He has been an innovator in the area of sports technology. He strives to be ahead of the game and where it’s going. Working at the highest levels in the game with the best teams for a long period of time is his great achievement in this industry.”
For six years, until Tim Sheens’ demise at the end of 2015, Barker held the position as the Kangaroos head of performance analysis. He was on the staff as Australia romped to a World Cup win in 2013. And nearly two years ago, when Bennett took the top job with England, Barker was again part of his staff. The bond between the pair is a strong one.
But just who is the real Scott Barker? Details remain sketchy. Barker rarely does media interviews. As one journalist who has covered the Broncos for years puts it: “He’s not that friendly. Seems nice enough though.” The Guardian put in a request to interview Barker during the World Cup and was told by England management: “Scott isn’t available for interview. We’d rather the focus be on the players and coaches.”
Barker might decline the limelight but his impact on the success of Bennett’s teams, and individual players, demands respect. Luke Gale is one player Bennett has brought into the England fold during his two years at the helm. Gale has grown and developed on the international stage under Bennett’s watch, and will now play in his first World Cup final.
Of the influence of Barker with the players, the halfback says: “He does all Wayne’s media, he’s Wayne’s right-hand man. He’s a good fella and he does all the clips. If you need any clips, Scott will do them for you.”
Barker has long been at the forefront of technological innovation in rugby league. Two years ago he employed the use of drones at Brisbane training, a first in the NRL. Always looking for an advantage, for the slightest tech edge, he did the same in his time with the Australian national team.
Billed as an IT expert, digital programmer and performance guru, Barker also has experience as a head coach. In just his first year as coach of the University of Queensland’s rugby league side, he led them to a 24-18 grand final win over the Australian Catholic University team. As he revealed in the book, Visions, creating software is another part of his skillset: “When digital video came into the market, I helped develop some software for a league version that’s now used in all 16 clubs”.
Barker’s background might be secretive but his value cannot be ignored. If England do the unthinkable on Saturday and dethrone the current world champions, ending a 45-year wait for success, then a spare a thought for the shy man sat next to Wayne Bennett in the Suncorp Stadium coaching box.
