Bennett: The gap is quality talent
Brisbane Broncos and England coach Wayne Bennett believes the acute difference between the NRL and Super League is the amount of quality players each competition has at its disposal.
Bennett’s Broncos spanked Wigan 42-12 on Saturday night while the Roosters smashed St Helens 38-12. On Sunday night North Queensland won 38-4 over Leeds.
In 2015 all three NRL teams also defeated their Super League counterparts.
The manner of the losses has led to many questions about the standard of Super League. Bennett said it is the depth of quality that is the issue for the English clubs.
“I thought on Friday St Helens tried extremely hard, so did Wigan,” he said after the game.
“I thought Saints didn’t have the quality players the Roosters have, maybe that was the case here with Wigan as well because we have some quality players and there’s a bit of a gap there I think.
“I think the effort is there and they all tried hard, they’ve clearly been coached well and got some good mannerisms about them. I expected a tough game and the score got away from them a bit. I like the way we applied pressure.”
Despite the dominance of the Australian sides, Bennett would like to see the World Club Series played down under.
An eight team World Club Series, featuring two games in the UK and two games in Australia, has been mooted.
“The Cowboys would have sold out (their ground) and we would have had 40,000 plus at least in Brisbane,” Bennett said.
“That can’t be a failure. When Wigan played the Roosters in Sydney they got a fair crowd. People want to see English players against Australian clubs. It is a lot better than a trial match.”
Wigan coach Shaun Wane says he would like another crack at an NRL side next year. The Warriors boss declined to blame the result in the difference in salary caps between the two competitions.
“I don’t wont to use that as an excuse,” Wane said.
“We were just beaten up by a really good team. I need to improve my team. They outplayed us. We need to dust ourselves down and respond.”