Bennett steps down as Australia coach

Wayne Bennett has sent shockwaves through the Australian rugby league community by announcing his resignation as Test coach.

The Australian Rugby League had been set to endorse Bennett as Kangaroos coach through next year’s international calendar, with a view to him carrying on in the job until the 2008 World Cup.

However, Australia’s surprise defeat at the hands of New Zealand in the final of November’s Tri-Nations series, and his increasing distrust of the media, seem to have forced Bennett’s hand.

Bennett received criticism from some sections of the Australian press for the strict regime he imposed on his players during the tour, and that was something he found extremely frustrating.

“They (the players) didn’t have a dry tour, I can assure you,” Bennett told Fox Sports.

“But this is where you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.

“You can’t do anything right any more. Our game has never been in such turmoil as it has been in the past three years with player misbehaviour, and every one of those instances that the players have been involved in has been alcohol-related.”

Bennett has no intention of retiring from the game altogether, and soon after announcing his resignation as Kangaroos coach, he revealed he has signed a four-year contract extension at the Brisbane Broncos.