League: Kearney prepared for life after Wayne

Wayne Bennett helped the Kiwis believe they could be world champions. Photo / Getty Images

There is a common view that Stephen Kearney has been forced to dispense with the training wheels for the upcoming Anzac test following Wayne Bennett's decision to pull out as Kiwis assistant coach.

It's a perception at which Kearney bristles.

The Kiwis coach usually doesn't do angry, maintaining an even disposition at all times, but his annoyance is palpable.

"I'm not sure if I should be offended or not," he says drily. "It's not just about me doing the job. All along, my point has been to make sure I have good people around me and nothing has changed in that perspective. Tony Iro, Dean Bell, Quentin Pongia - they are people I have a great deal of confidence in."

He's right to. Kearney and Iro, his new assistant, are two of the most promising coaches coming through.

But a team with Bennett in the afterguard exudes confidence - six premierships and five State of Origin series wins does that for you - and his relationship with Kearney worked.

Kearney was the front man, the exacting, young coach who put the engine together.

Bennett was the grizzled, old coach in the background with the impeccable CV who tinkered with the engine so it was finely tuned by the end of the tournament. He orchestrated the defensive pattern that held Australia to just four points in the second half of the World Cup final. He gave players confidence so by the time of that match, they virtually believed it was their destiny to win.

He is not just respected, he is revered. Players often talked about the fact that when Bennett walked into a room, they sat up and took notice. They might now notice he's not there.

Kearney maintains that he will follow the formula that worked so successfully last year. As a player, he was meticulous - almost to the point where it drove team-mates barmy - and it is this quality which is now his biggest asset.

Soon after their World Cup win, amid the celebrations, he challenged the players to build on that performance and prove it wasn't a fluke.

"You are always thinking about your next assignment," he says. "I like to make sure we do things the right way, and the right way when you are in charge is your way. I am looking forward to working with Tony and the rest of the staff again.

"There are a number of little things which we highlighted that we could do better. Last year's Anzac test was a good learning curve for me in terms of preparation for this test.

"All I do is try to prepare the side the best I can and I get confidence from knowing that I have done that. The way I prepare this side will be no different to the way I prepared them at the World Cup.

"The World Cup [success] hasn't changed me as a coach or a person. I view everything the same as I always have. My coaching ideas or philosophies haven't changed. Working with Wayne and everyone else for those six weeks was a wonderful experience."

Kearney still chats with Bennett every fortnight or so about all things rugby league. In some respects, Bennett is like another New Zealand selector, offering his thoughts on players and teams.

Kearney had originally hoped Bennett could be added to the selection panel on a more formal basis but is satisfied he can use him as a sounding board whenever he wants. Bennett's Dragons side are due to play North Queensland in Townsville on May 9, the day after the Anzac test, but Kearney doesn't think he will drop in on the way north.

The Kiwis squad of 18 for that match will be announced next Sunday and will definitely have a new captain.

Nathan Cayless slipped quietly into international retirement after the World Cup - so quietly, in fact, it wasn't widely known until last week - and is likely to be replaced by Roy Asotasi or Jeremy Smith.

Asotasi led the rebellion against Gary Kemble in 2007 and captained the Kiwis in last year's Anzac test before missing the World Cup with injury, while Smith deputised for Cayless at the World Cup and has turned into one of the best and most consistent players in the NRL.

Stacey Jones is the only other player Kearney believes is unavailable, after Jones re-emphasised last week that he has "no intention of playing for the Kiwis".

They still have Benji Marshall and Nathan Fien, so influential in the World Cup win, to guide the team around the park.

Kearney is undecided about whether he will call on any UK-based players - namely halfback Thomas Leuluai and fullback Brent Webb - but admits the travel factor makes it unlikely.

"It's always been our intention to make sure we give them every opportunity to play," he says. "We will wait and see what happens this weekend to see whether we need those guys.

"It's a tough trip to build into your week in terms of preparation and last year's experience highlighted that. But to say we're not going to consider them would be wrong."

It's still not clear whether Souths second rower Eddy Pettybourne, who was born in Christchurch but grew up in Australia and is being courted by New South Wales, will commit to the Kiwis. But the rest of the squad is unlikely to throw up many surprises. A combination of form and reward for those who won the World Cup is likely to come into it.

"There are a number of guys who are playing well at the moment and I want to give them every opportunity to pick themselves," Kearney says. "This weekend's round will make things a lot clearer.

"I'm generally happy but I think the players' form, and not just Kiwi players, is reflecting the competition in that there are no real standout teams. One week it's very, very good and the next is just good."

One thing is certain, though - the Kiwis will again be underdogs, despite the fact they are world champions.

The Kiwis have won the annual test only once, 22-16 at North Harbour Stadium in 1998 - a game Kearney was suspended for - meaning they have never won it on Australian soil in eight attempts.

"This is Australia we are talking about," Kearney points out with a chuckle. "The last five games have been an average score of 36-12."

These are the sort of things Kearney knows. It's all about preparation, you see.

"Last year's Anzac test was my first job and I was a bit anxious. I felt a lot more comfortable after that experience, although I can't guarantee I won't be anxious again."

He will be ready, though, even without Bennett beside him.