Pressure heaped on Bennett as Lions tour ends in humiliation

Of all the indignities heaped on Great Britain during a disastrous tour, this shock defeat which completed a 4-0 whitewash was the most humiliating.

Losses at the hands of a Tonga Invitational XIII and New Zealand, twice, had already raised serious questions over Wayne Bennett’s future as head coach, but this was as bad as it gets.

Bennett’s team led 10-0 but shipped a long-range try before the interval and then capitulated, conceding four unanswered scores in an abject second-half surrender in Port Moresby.

The Lions were revived after 12 years for this tour and Bennett, the England coach, was tasked with leading the re-emergence of a once iconic brand.

Now, though, the Rugby Football League, which has employed him for four years, will come under huge pressure not to renew the veteran Australian’s contract, which has expired.

“I don’t know, but my contract is up now so we’ll wait and see,” said Bennett when asked about his future afterwards. “Tonight is not a good night to make decisions.

“You’re emotional and not in a good place and coaching has taught me that much; don’t make decisions within 24 hours and, after a Grand Final loss, within about six weeks. I still have the appetite for it, but it’s not my decision.”

Tries from Blake Austin and Josh Hodgson appeared to have put Great Britain in control, despite the early loss of James Graham after a knock to the head. But the Kumuls hit back through Edwin Ipape and then destroyed their visitors in the second half with further tries from Justin Olam, Watson Boas, Alex Johnston and Nixon Putt.

It was only Great Britain’s second loss to Papua New Guinea and Bennett reflected: “I’m disappointed that we’ve underachieved.”

With an Ashes series against Australia on home soil next year and a home World Cup in 2021, RFL bosses have a huge decision to make about whether to stick with Bennett as England coach or find a new man.