KEY POINTS:
He's a wily old fox, Wayne Bennett. Displaying the sort of nifty footwork shown by many of his charges, he avoided directly commenting on Gary Kemble's troubles as coach of the Kiwis.
"I didn't see the game. I never saw a moment of it," Bennett says sternly of the Kiwis' 58-0 humiliation at the hands of the Kangaroos.
"I can only assume that there is plenty they can improve on," he adds dryly.
Bennett's lugubrious manner with the media is well known. An interview with the Broncos coach can often be like a jousting match.
How did Bennett as a young coach gain the respect of the dressing room; seemingly something Kemble has yet to do?
"I don't know, haven't worked that one out yet. Still working it out," he brushes off the question.
"You'd better ask the [players] that. I don't know if you really gain anybody's respect. We all see things differently."
So far, so normal for the man who so dislikes the media that he made his famous run from them after the Kangaroos' record defeat to New Zealand in the Tri Series in 2005.
Bennett's lack of enthusiasm for media chores is also wearing thin at the Brisbane Broncos, the club he has coached for a record 19 years, taking them to a record six titles.
His crusty character came to the fore when he refused to thank or even acknowledge the crowd when made a life member of the Broncos - Bennett's riposte was that the evening was supposed to be about the players.
He has also twice refused to answer media questions at post-game press conferences, hardly a major crime but it doesn't take a genius to work out that the club may finally look elsewhere for someone who will assume the off-the-field responsibilities of a modern coach.
Especially as the club has not forgotten Bennett's backdoor deal to join the Roosters last season, only dropping it when the move became public.
There is renewed speculation that Bennett will leave the club before his 2009 contract runs out, particularly because the Broncos have lost key players like Petero Civoniceva, Brad Thorn, Brent Tate, Shaun Berrigan and Dane Carlaw; all part of the squad which won the 2006 title.
However, Bennett has outlasted many a controversy in his day but, even though he won't weigh into the one surrounding Kemble, he was taken with his coaching of the commemorative All Golds team.
"It will be one of the highlights of my career. I've no doubt about that. It was a remarkable week. I couldn't have wished for a better team of guys.
"The NZRL deserves a lot of credit for making sure that the past was honoured and remembered in the way that it was.
"England, you always feel a lot of history when you go there. Our countries [New Zealand and Australia] aren't that old and I don't think we've always taken our history as seriously as the English do. That's why what the NZRL did was a magnificent bloody gesture, and that they had the courage to do it.
"The cultural part of the New Zealand team was a great eye-opener to me. Personally I was in kind of awe [of the haka]. I was taken aback by the sincerity that they all do it with.
"Even practising it there is no one being an idiot, no one looking for a short cut. The passion which they do it with and the commitment; at the end of the day it was pretty humbling for me. I can only appreciate the haka more than I've ever appreciated it."
Bennett said the Kiwis playing for the All Golds didn't need motivation.
"After Wellington, I think there was a big feeling from the players - well certainly I felt from them - that they needed a big performance to give them a bit of encouragement.
"It may have started out as an exhibition but by the time we got to the game and by the time the week had unfolded it was a bit more."
Win they did. Something Bennett puts down in no small part to his senior squad members.
"It wasn't totally the ideal preparation. We only got together on the Tuesday, but the camp was such a happy place.
"They all wanted to be there. The senior players were magnificent. They made sure training sessions went to plan. Their professionalism was absolutely spot on.
"Ruben Wiki is quite an outstanding person. Stacey Jones brings a lot to the place, too, and Nigel Vagana, although he's a quieter person, he's in the background all the time, especially with the younger guys. I couldn't have been more pleased with them."
Bennett also believes that much of the motivation came from players not wishing to "let down the boys who were leaving".
However, the big question is with the loss of so many senior players, do the Kiwis still have the talent to win?
"Sheesh," Bennett considers. "Look, I think they have. But they are missing a few players. Six or seven of them are out injured."
