WAYNE’S WORLD! Bennett’s mind games will pay off says Sean

WAYNE BENNETT’S cranky mind games can help inspire England to World Cup glory.

Sean O’Loughlin has decided that after watching his famously grouchy boss up close.

O’Loughlin was injured for last year’s Four Nations failure, when Bennett alienated fans and press alike.

But the Wigan skipper is convinced the Australian coach knows exactly what he is doing now he has seen how he works.

And he believes the Jekyll and Hyde leader will prove it over the next few weeks Down Under.

O’Loughlin, who leads England out in the World Cup opener against Australia on Friday, said: “His man-management is very good.

“He is intense on the field, making sure you do the right thing, but away from the pitch he’s a really approachable fella.”

Press and fans only usually see the moody side with Bennett making it obvious he does not like the media.

But O’Loughlin, 34, says he is completely different with the players and has built a squad who are desperate to succeed for him.

He said: “He spends a lot of time individually with the boys, he’s chatty motivation is coaching and trying to get the best out of the lads and being successful with them.”

That approach is fine if England are doing well but his grumpy press conferences did not help at last year’s Four Nations.

In his first tournament as head coach England failed, not even making it to the final.

But O’Loughlin, who spent time with the squad even though he was injured, is convinced Bennett already had his eyes on the bigger picture.

He said: “I saw how motivated he was to try and swing that round and be successful this year. His focus is about getting the best out of us.

“With coaching, there is the field side but also the management – how you deal with players, how you keep them motivated.”

England won a mid-season Test against Samoa and O’Loughlin said that helped him understand what makes Bennett tick.

He said: “He was very big on the basics. It is those minute details that swing games.” England missed out on the 2013 World Cup Final after suffering lastgasp heartache at the hands of New Zealand.

But O’Loughlin insists only the final – and winning it – is good enough this time. He added: “There is definitely that hunger there.” WE might discover that the days of the ‘big three’ nations in rugby league will come to an end during the World Cup.

It has always been a fault of the sport that Australia and New Zealand dominate, with England or Great Britain taking the ‘plucky’ third spot.

No other country has ever been good enough to challenge because those three countries have always had first say on stars.

Players who were eligible for more than one country always picked one of the big three.

But all that is changing with the second-tier countries now enticing some heavyweights.

New Zealand have been particularly hit, with Jason Taumalolo (below) opting for Tonga, where his parents are from.

They have also got Aussie Test star Andrew Fafita on board, with both high-profile players saying they want to help develop the game in the Polynesian nation.

It makes Tonga dangerous while the Kiwis are looking more vulnerable than they have done for years. There is so much money washing around in the NRL these days that players are rich enough to pin their colours to the mast of their heritage nations.

Pride now means more for some players than a big pay day. And that can only be good for the sport if more countries can compete at a top level.

Let’s just hope that England can take advantage and finally come home with the glory from a major tournament.