KEY POINTS:
Wayne Bennett is not being given a deadline to make up his mind about continuing as assistant coach of the Kiwis - and he is unlikely to attend next weekend's celebration gathering in Auckland of the entire World Cup-winning squad and staff.
NZRL chairman Ray Haffenden is taking a softly-softly approach and hasn't spoken to Bennett since the night of November 22 when the Kiwis stunned the league world and won the World Cup. He left a message on Bennett's answer phone to wish him a merry Christmas.
Haffenden is also not planning on discussing the matter with Bennett should he attend next weekend.
It will be the first time the Kiwis will have assembled since their famous 34-20 win over Australia and two public celebrations are scheduled.
"We will talk to Wayne when the time is right," Haffenden said. "We have been giving him time and space to get bedded in with the Dragons.
"We don't feel there is too much urgency. Wayne will make his own mind up. You can hang as many carrots out in front of Wayne but if he is of a mind not to do something, then he's not going to do it."
Bennett, who has taken over as Dragons coach this season after 21 years with the Broncos, turned down the Roosters in the final stages of negotiations.
Haffenden said he would contact Bennett soon and that the subject would be a major discussion point at the next NZRL board meeting on February 12. There would be no deadline for the former Queensland and Kangaroos coach to make a decision. The Kiwis' next match is the annual Anzac test on May 8, which is likely to be in Brisbane.
Kiwis manager and former Kiwis captain Dean Bell has said Warriors under-20 coach Tony Iro would be an ideal replacement if Bennett walked away from the Kiwis.
Haffenden said no thought had been given to an alternative.
"I'm totally confident in my own mind that Wayne would be interested [in continuing] but circumstances change," Haffenden said.
Head coach Stephen Kearney said he didn't expect Bennett to attend next weekend's celebration because of his commitments with the Dragons but that he is keen for Bennett to continue.
"I can't see any negatives to having Wayne continue," he said. "I would love to have him on board and I'm sure everyone involved would... but I understand he has a huge commitment in trying to establish himself at a new club."
Kearney will take advantage of next weekend's gathering to re-emphasise to his players that no one is guaranteed a spot for the Anzac test.
"We have scaled the Everest in winning the World Cup," he said. "It's now a matter of making sure there's no complacency involved in our game from administrators to players.
"I will be picking the Anzac test team on who I think will do the best job for New Zealand and that will be based on eight rounds of footy. There will be no room for anyone who thinks their spot is guaranteed because of the World Cup."
