Bennett, who has won a record six Premiership titles in Australia and is now coaching National Rugby League (NRL) side St George-Illawarra, addressed a number of high performance coaching staff at the Australian Paralympic Committee's (APC) biannual Coaches' Congress at Sydney Olympic Park.

"Coaching to me is about people and about relationships," Bennett told the Congress.

"If you can get that into your head then you can build teams that you want to build and help individuals get where they want to get.

"One of the things you have to do when you coach is be very honest with yourself.

"The one person you can’t lie to is you.

"I cannot comprehend how as a coach you can stand in front of a group of men or women and you know you’re not getting the best out of yourself.

"It absolutely defies me as a coach, I couldn’t live with myself.

"The most important part of the team is you and your coaching.

"Being the best starts with you, it doesn’t start with them.”

Australian wheelchair rugby head coach Brad Dubberley, who recently led his side to victory in the Four Nations Tournament, was impressed with Bennett’s simple and clear message and the confidence and intensity with which he delivered it.

"For me as a coach, he really brought home that athletes are not just athletes but human beings as well and how important it is to treat them with the same level of respect you would expect for yourself," said Dubberley.