Mal will feel final pressure: Bennett
WAYNE Bennett has turned up the heat on Mal Meninga, saying the Kangaroos coach is under mounting pressure to maintain Australia’s topdog status in Saturday night’s World Cup final.
The wily England mentor yesterday spoke of the pressures of coaching the Australian team and believes Meninga would be feeling the burden of 109 years of tradition in the Suncorp decider.
Bennett coached the Kangaroos in two stints, a two- game cameo in 1998 and a term in 2004- 05, during which he won 10 of 14 games. The Broncos coach resigned after Australia’s disastrous 2005 Tri- Nations tour, when New Zealand thrashed the Kangaroos 24- 0 in the final.
Meninga has won all 12 games in charge of Australia since his appointment last year but Bennett yesterday continued the mind games, suggesting his rival must deliver in the World Cup final.
“The pressure is always there Australian coach),” Bennett said.
“It goes with the job. Mal would feel it, I know it would be there, that goes with the Australian job.
“It was there for me and it was there for other ( Kangaroos) coaches.
“I have no doubt at all Mal would be feeling that.”
The Kangaroos have conceded an average of just six points a game since Meninga took charge and backrower Boyd Cordner concedes Australia must finish the job by disposing of England.
Asked if it would be a failure if the Kangaroos lost, Cordner said: “It definitely would be disappointing.
“We do have a good opportunity but we are coming up against a very good England side. Their players are ( as in good form from the Super League so it’s going to be a quality game.
“We have our standards. We will have to be much better – there is stuff we have to work on to beat them.”
Bennett’s association with Meninga spans almost four decades but their bond was seriously strained 18 months ago when they clashed in the fight to win the Kangaroos post.
Last year Meninga blasted Bennett but the England coach disputed that yesterday, insisting he had no reason to death- ride his Kangaroos rival.
“Our relationship is really good. We’re friends,” Bennett said.
“That ( falling out) was last year and we sorted ourselves out in the UK ( on the Four Nations tour) and we’ve both moved on.
“At the time he thought it was personal about him, but it was never about him, it was about the process that happened ( with Meninga getting the Australian job).
“They are the best team, we are playing the best team.
“They have been unbeaten in two years and playing good footy.
“No one has got close to them except us in one game.”