Mal has tickled up 'Benny', now for the response

Do you think Wayne Bennett will be pumped up to beat Mal Meninga in the Four Nations tournament?

Like a balloon.

Sure, Bennett will say it’s all about the England team he is coaching and getting them to realise their potential on the international stage.

But the fact Meninga, after arriving in the UK, called Bennett out on the subject of the Australian coaching job has given the event a real edge.

It was an interesting tactic by big Mal.

He hadn’t even left Manchester airport when he told reporters: “He (Bennett) wants my job, but he hasn’t got it, so obviously he’ll be trying his damnedest to usurp me. We’ll see what happens.”

Meninga was asked if he thought Bennett had only accepted the England job to try to prove a point in competition with him, to which he replied: “I don’t know. You’ll have to ask him that question.

“But I still think it’s good for international rugby league, having the best coach, the master coach, coaching England. Hopefully they’ll play really well and make the series an exciting one.”

At the tournament launch at Anfield, Bennett was asked about the England and Australia jobs, and said: “I’m very happy with the English job right now, I have no desire to coach Australia, no. I’m happy with what I’m doing, I’m happy with decision I’ve taken.”

Meninga ran with the Bennett being involved is great for international football line again there.

But back to Meninga’s comment about Bennett coveting the Australia job, going back to before Meninga was appointed. Just Mal having a bit of fun? An attempt at some mind games?

I think it’s Meninga genuinely sticking it to Bennett. Publicly saying that Bennett wanted his job is in effect saying Bennett was prepared to take second-best and coach England.

And saying it in England. Bennett wouldn’t be happy with that, and although he would say Meninga’s comments don’t have any effect on him and what he is doing with the Poms, rest assured it would add a little to Bennett’s already high level of motivation to do well.

So has Meninga made a mistake by prodding the seven-time premiership-winning coach?

It’s probably his way of pumping himself up even more, even if it gives Bennett a surge as well.
Like saying to himself: “OK, Bennett wanted the job, but I got it, so now I’ve got to prove I deserve it.”

Meninga wouldn’t be prepared to take a shot at Bennett if he didn’t like what he had under the hood with the Australia team and it’s obvious from the way he talks that he does.

And so he should.

The Aussies did a terrific job against New Zealand in the Test in Perth last Saturday week, winning 26-6, and now Meninga will have a further look at a few players in the tour opener against Scotland early on Saturday, our time.

He still has a few decisions to make before he settles on a team to play the Kiwis in the second week of the tournament.

It will be interesting to see how Australia shape up in what should be a comfortable win against Scotland, and how Lachlan Coote and Euan Aitken perform for the opposition.

But not nearly as interesting as it will be to see what Bennett can get the Poms to produce against New Zealand early on Sunday, our time.

It will be pretty close to a forward pack full of NRL players in the England starting side, with James Graham, Josh Hodgson, Elliott Whitehead, Sam, George and Tom Burgess and Mike Cooper, who played for St George Illawarra last season and is returning to Warrington next season, to pick from.

The clash between the Aussies and Poms in week three of the tournament would have to be the most eagerly anticipated – by fans over there and here.

That interest would only be surpassed if they met again in the final a week later.

That would be a cracker, Meninga and Bennett going head-to-head with a Four Nations title on the line.