KEY POINTS:
As Darren Lockyer looked down the table, he admitted it looked peculiar to see Wayne Bennett wearing a pin-striped black-and-white Kiwis shirt.
Throughout Lockyer's 14-year NRL career, Bennett has been a constant in his life as Broncos, Queensland and Australia coach. Not once has the old master been
on the other side.
That will of course change next season when Bennett moves to Wollongong as Dragons coach but before then, the man regarded as the best coach of his generation will help the Kiwis try to claim the World Cup for the first time.
"It is a bit strange, I suppose," Lockyer said as he cast an eye over Bennett at a World Cup launch.
"He believes in international rugby league and I think what he's doing is good for the game. He's great at getting the best out of teams.
"I worry about playing New Zealand anytime. We know they are going to be better for his involvement and it's going to make our job a little bit tougher but we are in for the challenge, always have been."
It's the challenge and enjoyment that enticed Bennett to team up with Stephen Kearney at the helm of the Kiwis for May's Centenary test against Australia. He didn't need to. There wasn't anything left in rugby league he needed to prove but one achievement is missing from his extensive coaching CV - taking a team at a World Cup.
Given the circumstances of his departure from the Kangaroos after their loss to the Kiwis in the 2005 Tri Nations final, it wasn't likely to be with the green and golds.
"With the World Cup meaning so much to so many people, I wanted to make a small contribution there," says Bennett, who has until now declined to talk publicly about becoming Kiwis assistant coach.
"I suppose it is a little bit unusual having coached Australia at international football but I believe in what international rugby league is trying to do and I wanted to make a little bit of a difference if I could.
"An opportunity came along to be involved in the New Zealand team and I'm happy I did.
"The All Golds was one of the most enjoyable experiences I have had in rugby league, actually.
"It was an enjoyable time [being involved for the Centenary test] and that's why I'm going to the World Cup. I'm at the stage of my life that if I'm not enjoying what I'm doing, then I'm not going to do it."
It's not stretching things to say it has significantly enhanced the Kiwis' chances. Kearney is a promising young coach but experience counts for a lot and no one at present in the game has more than Bennett.
He will offer advice on selections, defensive patterns and training drills but perhaps the biggest difference for Kearney is just knowing the six-time NRL premiership winner is there.
Bennett, though, says the Kiwis and Kearney are doing just fine, and replicate exactly what Australia do.
"It was one of the surprising things for me. I have been in Origin and test matches for Australia so I am pretty familiar with how things work but they [New Zealand] were very, very good.
"For the Centenary test this year, they were absolutely spot on with their preparation. You couldn't ask for more. They asked if they do anything differently to what Australia and Origin do and I reassured them they were absolutely on the money. Steve Kearney did a really good job with them. It's not all glass half empty [with the Kiwis], it's half full. And it will only get better with them."
Moments after the press conference, Bennett whipped off his Kiwis shirt and replaced it with his Broncos attire. It's probably still a bit much for him to call himself a Kiwi just yet.
