KEY POINTS:
The New Zealand Rugby League is waiting for the dust to settle after the Kiwis' World Cup title win before formalising an approach to master coach Wayne Bennett to carry on as assistant to coach Stephen Kearney.
There have been off-the-record talks and the NZRL chairman Ray Haffenden and Kearney are keen to see the relationship extended. Bennett was said to be "ecstatic" with the win when in the Kiwis' dressing room after the game.
"The timing isn't right just yet," Haffenden said. It was a board decision which had to be discussed and an approach ratified. "There's no doubt I do [want Bennett to continue]," he said.
Kearney is contracted to the end of next year. The Kiwis' next assignment is the May 8 Anzac test back at Suncorp Stadium, where they downed the Kangaroos 34-20 on Saturday night, then the end-of-year Four Nations with Australia, Great Britain and France in the Northern Hemisphere.
The coaching positions will be reviewed as part of a wider World Cup wind-up in coming weeks once financial and other details are finalised by the organisers. Asked if Kearney was sitting pretty, Haffenden said, "Well, yeah." The NZRL had provided Kearney and Bennett with "a level playing field and they have gone on and done a fantastic job. Now we need to find out what we can provide to ensure we carry this success on."
The NZRL will make no profit from the cup. The A$650,000 prizemoney will cover all costs including player bonuses for making and then winning the final. The 24 squad members were on a progressive incentive payments scale through the tournament and their winnings soak up what's left after travel, accommodation and other costs are met.
"Making the final was a key for us," said NZRL manager Peter Cordtz, who said there would have been "a significant shortfall" had they not done so. The value for us is in what we do beyond here with the platform they [the team] have set us."
