Bennett under fire after loss

eyes, numbers one through 17 all performed their roles to a strong standard.

But Maguire was in awe of his pack leader Jared WaereaHargreaves who constantly put his side on the front foot.

‘‘He’s incredible. He’s done a great job for the Kiwi jersey and he’s definitely putting things in a great place.’’

Coach Wayne Bennett has admitted Great Britain have ‘‘gone backwards’’ and critics are turning against the Australian-born head coach and his team after a series defeat to the Kiwis.

A Shaun Johnson-inspired Kiwis beat Great Britain 23-8 in Christchurch on Saturday to complete a series whitewash – a year after losing a three-match series 2-1 to Bennett’s England.

It was Great Britain’s third consecutive tour defeat – kickstarted by a loss to Tonga – and Bennett could be under pressure to keep his job after three years in charge.

The South Sydney NRL coach said his future was ‘‘a decision they [the Rugby Football League] have got to make. My contract finishes next week [after a test against Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby] so we’ll see what they want to do.’’

Bennett appeared keen to continue in the role, and tried to put some context on the results.

He said Great Britain were without key players such as the just-retired Sam Burgess, 2018 World Player of the Year Tommy Makinson and veteran Wigan captain Sean O’Loughlin, and said: ‘‘Next year and the World Cup year are the prime years.

‘‘There are a lot players here who haven’t played before. There’s a number of players, we’ve tried a few new combinations so if we have to have a bit of a stumble, this is the year to do it in – not next year or the year after.’’

However, Great Britain fans may be running out of patience with Bennett, who took over as England coach in 2016.

The Queenslander had just four per cent support from voters in an online poll on England’s Total Rugby League website yesterday with 44 per cent wanting former Wigan Warriors coach Shaun Wane to take over as coach, with 29 per cent backing Castleford Tigers coach and former Great Britain international Daryl Powell and 20 per cent favouring current Great Britain assistant and Salford Red Devils coach Ian Watson.