A coach’s dream. Flying under the radar, as they say.
And wouldn’t he be loving it.
The 67-year-old master manager has undoubtedly seen it all in his near five-decade association with rugby league and he has drawn on all his lessons to give England the ultimate preparation for the historic tournament.
After taking over from popular coach Steve McNamara as an almost loathed choice by many English fans, Bennett embarked on perhaps the toughest coaching assignment of his career.
Immediately, he demanded the Rugby Football League shorten the Super League season this year, pencilled in both pre-season and midseason training camps, and ensured the side were able to play additional games by becoming involved in the mid-year tests in Australia.
Such is Bennett’s influence in the game, he managed to convince Broncos’ suits to take part in the World Club Series back in February, providing him with crucial time in England to work on his plans for the national side.
After a disappointing campaign in the 2016 Four Nations tournament in England, where the Poms only won one match – against Scotland – the additional time assessing players and making arrangements with staff in England was well needed.
Four all of England’s growth in the last decade amongst their national side, players shifting to the NRL, and the professional development of the Super League competition, the one thing they have lacked is the ability to overcome their own mistakes at crucial parts of games and the experience to close-out matches.
They’ve always had the ability, the competitiveness and have never been short of emotional determination or pride.
It’s why Bennett is the perfect coach for them. He will keep it simple, keep them focussed and give them the confidence they need.
He is a simple coach, with simple ideals. One of them mainly being about effort.
It’s why the overlooking of George Burgess for the side, speaks volumes.
Arguably one the top-three best forwards in the game when South Sydney won the NRL title in 2014, Burgess’ form has drizzled down to a shadow of his former self. Put simply, when he plays it looks like he just isn’t having a crack.
Bennett knows it, and he won’t have it in his squad. It would have sent a clear-as-daylight message to the England squad – mediocracy won’t be accepted here.
Their 30-10 win over Samoa in the mid-year Pacific Tests was by no means an inspiring win for England’s World Cup journey under Bennett, but it was a real improvement on from where they have come and could prove to be a crucial experience.
While all the emphasis of the tournament thus far has been on the defection of Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita to Tonga from their respective nations of New Zealand and Australia, any talk of England’s preparations have seldom appeared in any Australian-based media.
A quick analysis on social media after the England squad was announced showed murmurings of discontent about both the list of players and Bennett’s ability to successfully guide the side through to the end. While it is unclear whether that discussion amongst the fans translated into the English media, it showed the first signs of the team’s chances being written-off even before the tournament had even begun.
Again, such discourse would leave Bennett salivating about how to get the best out of his side through the five-week competition.
How many times has the coach been written-off in the past, only to later prove his detractors, haters and naysayers blind wrong.
Even this season at the Brisbane Broncos it was suggested the mastercoach had finally lost his touch to engage with the younger generation of player.
Yet, despite not having a consistent line-up for the majority of the year, Bennett managed to lead Brisbane to a preliminary final, going down just one game short of the grand finale to what has been said to be one of the best sides in modern rugby league history.
Bennett initially had all the ruthless rugby league media breathing down his neck when he first took on the England job. Now, whether by default or design, he has virtually no-one looking at him or his side.
Perfectly-positioned, written-off before it’s even begun, flying under-the-radar and with no-hope given of tournament honours, Coach Bennett has played everything right into his team’s hands.
It might look like his promiscuous approach to the England job has been a learn-on-the-run and do-the-best-we-can style, but Bennett has played his cards better than ever.
If there’s a team to look out for at the World Cup, it’s the missing-in-action England.
There’s something intriguing about their preparation.
And there’s the man with that all-too-familiar wry smile at the helm; the one that usually appears after he has proved all of his doubters wrong.
Max McKinney | @MaxMckinney
Contributer
