Tuesday 28 November 2017 10:35, UK
Australian forward Matt Gillett has accused England coach Wayne Bennett of kidology in the build-up to the World Cup final.
Bennett caused a stir by suggesting his England team "probably" had no chance of beating Australia in Saturday's final at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium but Gillett is refusing to take him seriously.
"He said that but I am sure everyone realises that he doesn't mean it," said the long-serving Broncos second rower. "In-house they will be fully confident of coming here and taking the win.
"He has been around a long time and knows footy pretty well. He says those things and makes a headline of it."
"But for us we are not reading too much into stuff like that. We are coming up against a big England side that are playing some good footy. It is going to be a big task."
Bennett also surprised journalists at the post-match press conference last Saturday when he maintained he was not nervous as Tonga staged their dramatic late fightback that almost took the game away from England, but Gillett, who has spent the last three seasons under Bennett at the Broncos, says the 67-year-old is unflappable whatever the circumstances.
"He keeps relaxed and calm," Gillett said. "Footy does not always go to plan or your way out there but win, lose or draw he is always pretty calm.
"He doesn't scream or swear and carry on. He tells it how it is and keeps the same tone of voice. He is easy to be coached by. You understand a lot more that way without all the yelling and stuff like that."
Kangaroos prop Aaron Woods believes that Bennett, who was influential in New Zealand's shock win over Australia in the 2008 World Cup final in Brisbane, will have England fired up this week.
"He'll give them belief," Woods said. "England's campaign has got better throughout the series.
"The scoreboard last week didn't reflect the game but I'm sure Wayne would have given them a big rocket up the backside. They'll be fired up for this week."
Woods says he will need a painkilling injection to overcome a shoulder injury while Josh McGuire and Boyd Cordner are also certain to line up in an unchanged team despite carrying knocks that would have ruled them out for less important matches.
Australia coach Mal Meninga said: "It has helped significantly to have an unchanged line-up over the quarter-final and semi-final stages as we look to build into the final.
"This will be an enormous occasion for the game and for these players and I'm sure they will all do their country proud on Saturday night."
