BY CURTIS WOODWARD

In his undeniable way, England coach Wayne Bennett said enough to confirm England will be ready for New Zealand this weekend.

England play the Kiwis while Australia face Scotland.

Bennett’s England are coming off the back of a big win over France in Avignon and the veteran mentor is pleased with his team’s progress.

“I haven’t thought too much about winning the tournament,” he said.

“I have just been working with the players, seeing what they’ve got and what they haven’t got and I like what I see.

“They’ve got a good attitude, they work hard and they are well-versed in the skills of the game.

“We are in a pretty good place at the moment, with a real test to come in the next few weeks. I am happy with where we’re at.”

As always, Bennett deflected supremely. Just giving the local media enough to puff their chest’s out ever so slightly.

But Bennett knows he has the muscle and enough skill to seriously worry Australia and new Zealand. The problem for Bennett is whether he has had enough time to instill the belief needed to win the tournament or even just make it to Anfield.

In what may prove the master stroke of all master strokes, Bennett has dragged all the attention and pressure onto himself and off the players with his spat with old mate and Australian coach Mal Meninga continuing to simmer. Whether it’s legitimate is anyone’s guess but it’s making more headlines than his players – just the way Wayne likes it.

When asked about not getting the Australian job, as always, he played a straight bat. Surprise, surprise.

“My primary role in life has been to coach for a long period of time,” he said.

“I am just doing what I do every other day and I just happen to be coaching England.”

Classic Wayne.

@woodward_curtis