England Rugby League coach Wayne Bennett prepares for World Cup final… 100 miles from home
Aussie on brink of landing ultimate trophy hails from Queensland and has become a legend in Brisbane after leading the Broncos to six NRL titles
WAYNE BENNETT admits it is great to be home as he prepares for a World Cup final against Australia just 100 miles from where he was born.
England coach Bennett hails from Queensland and has become a legend in Brisbane after leading the Broncos to six NRL titles.
The 67-year-old said: “I love Queensland and the rugby league culture here. I was brought up on England-Australia stuff so for England to play Australia in a big game here is really important to me.
“England haven’t played Australia at the Suncorp Stadium, Great Britain has. I’m really happy for Brisbane and Queensland that we're here and starting to get some of the rivalry back.”
Home also came to Bennett as son Justin, who suffered brain damage when he was a baby, attended yesterday’s training session, wearing an England shirt with the number 18 on his back in a touchingly classy move.
And Bennett may be hanging around this neck of the woods after Saturday’s final as his future as England coach after the final is not yet known.
“I took the England job because I wanted to be in this World Cup, in Australia, I wanted England to be hopefully more competitive, I wanted to be where we are today I suppose.
“But I haven't thought about the future. I just want to get to Saturday night. I'm not in a good place at the moment to think about it. We've a big game coming up on Saturday and that's my priority. I'll worry about it afterwards.”
KEVIN SINFIELD It doesn't get bigger than England against Australia in their backyard
The England boss has been there, seen it and done everything over 41 years in the hot seat. But he admits he is ‘embarrassed’ about how he has acted as a coach down the years.
Not about how he is now, even though he has a less-than-friendly public persona, but how he was when he first took up the job.
Bennett said: “I'm embarrassed when I look back at the way I used to coach, all aspects of it. I've spent 40 years learning, I've still got a bit of learning yet, so I haven't finished.
“I look back and I think to myself, ‘Wayne I don't like you.’
“You can't do this job if you haven't got confidence in yourself but I just look back and realise I could have and should have been better but I wasn't.”