Wayne Bennett using World Club Series game as Brisbane Broncos NRL preparation
Tuesday 17 February 2015 11:05, UK
Brisbane Broncos coach Wayne Bennett is not too concerned about the result of his side's World Club Series clash with Wigan on Saturday.
The former Kangaroos coach risked upsetting organisers at the new tournament's launch in Manchester where he made his low-key comments about using the game as preparation for the upcoming NRL season.
Three matches will be played this weekend instead of the World Club Challenge, which used to pit the Super League and NRL winners in a one-off game.
Bennett feels his squad, which is a mixture of youth and experience, will benefit from the trip to England even if it might not be perfectly timed in terms of NRL requirements.
He said: "To do this sort of thing, it makes it pretty special. It's part of the experience of playing rugby league. To me it's not just about playing in the NRL.
"We're in bit of a transition at the moment. I'll be looking at some combinations and some match fitness. We start our season 10 days later against South Sydney. That's what I'm trying to achieve and play a good game of football.
"The result is not as important as the way that we play, the way we execute our plays and get some combinations working."
Live World Club Series Rugby League
Bennett arrived in England on Saturday after overseeing the NRL All Stars against the Indigenous team in Friday's season opener on the Gold Coast, accompanied by senior players Justin Hodges, Corey Parker and Sam Thaiday.
Hodges and Parker played for the NRL All Stars on Friday but Thaiday pulled out of the game with a calf injury which Bennett said was merely a precaution.
"Sam had some problems with his calf muscle last year and he had some discomfort before the All Stars and didn't want to risk it and be out for six weeks like he was last year," Bennett said.
"But he's good to go, as are Hodges and Parker who played in the All Stars."
The Broncos have brought over new signings Anthony Milford and Adam Blair, alongside internationals Alex Glenn, Ben Hunt and Josh McGuire, mixed with a crop of little-known youngsters like Mitchell Dodds, Kodi Nikorima and Aaron Whitchurch.
With Tom Opacic going down with a virus, Bennett has just 17 players to select but he remains defiant over his selection decision.
"We've got one ill at the moment but he's our 18th player so we're going okay," Bennett said. "There's no point in bringing any more than 18. You can only play 17 and I'd I hate to see them sitting around doing nothing."
Watch live coverage of the World Club Series on Sky Sports 1 all weekend, starting with the Warrington Wolves against St George Illawara Dragons on Friday at 7:30pm.
