Bennett told: Don’t be Kiwis coach

English winger Jermaine Mcgillvary hopes Wayne Bennett doesn’t follow through with suggestions he will take charge of the beleaguered Kiwis rugby league team.

Bennett’s two-year contract as England coach ended with the 6-0 loss to Australia in the World Cup final. The Brisbane boss declined to discuss his future following the match.

However, Bennett, 67, opened up the possibility earlier in the tournament of returning to help out the Kiwis following their nightmare year.

Mcgillvary said that would be close to a disaster for England, who have made strides under the veteran mentor and host New Zealand in a three-match test series next year.

‘‘I’ve told him, he’d better not go to the Kiwis or there’ll be trouble,’’ Mcgillvary said. ‘‘He’s done a lot for me, he’s improved all the guys. He doesn’t care who you are, he’ll rip into you if he thinks he needs to.

‘‘He’s a great man-manager and a great tactician. If he takes that Kiwis job, I won’t talk to him again.‘‘

Bennett was hugely influential as an assistant coach under Stephen Kearney when the Kiwis beat Australia 34-20 in the 2008 World Cup final in Brisbane.

RFL chief executive Nigel Wood says the intention was always to discuss Bennett’s future at the end of the World Cup and England’s valiant performance at Suncorp Stadium has put the veteran coach in a strong bargaining position.

The New Zealand Rugby League is conducting a review into New Zealand’s failure at the tournament.

Coach David Kidwell’s position will come under scrutiny following a troubled two-year stint at the helm, culminating in a 4-2 quarterfinal loss to Fiji.