NRL Rule Change Demanded After Wayne Bennett Denied Kangaroos Coaching Role

Calls are growing for the NRL and ARL Commission to change the rules around the Kangaroos coaching role, with Wayne Bennett blocked from taking the job while he's South Sydney coach. The NRL is on the hunt for a new Kangaroos coach after Mal Meninga was forced to relinquish the role when he signed on to become the Perth Bears' inaugural mentor.

Brad Fittler was thought to be the front-runner to replace Meninga, but the former NSW coach withdrew from contention this week. It's now believed to be a two-horse race between Queensland greats Cameron Smith and Kevin Walters .

Legendary coach Bennett was said to be interested in the Kangaroos job, especially with the return of the Ashes series against England later this year. But the ARL Commission has effectively banned Bennett from taking the role due to his affiliation with Souths.

The Commission has always insisted the Kangaroos coach doesn't hold a role with an NRL team, as they don't believe it allows enough time and focus. NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said last month that the new national team coach will be someone without ties to club footy, and Bennett is under contract with Souths until the end of 2027.

"The Commission has a long-held policy that the Kangaroos coach shouldn't be involved in coaching clubs as well, and that policy is going to continue," Abdo said. "We are all very excited for the end-of-season tour, it's been a long time in waiting, and of course we have a World Cup next year."

Bennett previously coached Australia in 1998, 2004 and 2005. And there are calls for the NRL to change its stance and allow the 75-year-old to return to the role if he's the best candidate.

“I think they need to get the best candidate in all seriousness, and if that means changing this outdated rule that we can’t have a club coach anymore, so be it,” James Hooper said on NRL 360 on Wednesday night. “I wouldn’t have an issue if it was Wayne or Ricky (Stuart) or (Craig) Bellamy."

Gorden Tallis pointed out that Souths would be hesitant to let Bennett take on the Kangaroos role anyway, given it would mean he'd miss the start of the 2026 pre-season. “If I am in charge of a club and my guy is going to go away and not help set up a pre-season and have my guys ready for March, he’s not doing it,” Tallis said. “I pay him the bigger slice of the pie, so you either pick one or the other."

Journalist Michael Carayannis disagreed, saying most NRL clubs would have systems in place to allow their coach to step away if need-be. Meanwhile, Queensland State of Origin stars Cameron Munster and Harry Grant have both endorsed Smith as the ideal candidate for Kangaroos coach.

"His credentials and resume is probably the best that the game's ever seen," said Maroon captain Munster. "When he talks, you listen. If you don't know Cameron Smith, you will eventually when he talks to you. He's got that aura about him. He's a bit like Mal.

"I know he's a Queenslander, but he'll pick the best possible squad for the Aussies that he thinks is going to get the job done. There's no better person than Smithy to get the job."

RELATED:

  • Mal Meninga snares key figure from Titans to join Perth Bears

  • Gorden Tallis responds after Billy Slater tipped to make sad decision

Grant said: "He's seen how different people operate over the years but I think what he will do is bring so much knowledge. There is also that element of education and learning for some of the best players in the game that want to keep developing. You think of guys like Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Payne Haas, Nathan Cleary … I'm sure they are going to look at Cam Smith and want to play under him and learn from him."

with AAP

This article originally appeared on Yahoo Sport Australia at https://au.news.yahoo.com/calls-for-nrl-rule-change-after-wayne-bennett-blocked-from-becoming-next-kangaroos-coach-234535143.html

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