League: Bennett has given hope - glory next

Australia's Cameron Smith and coach Mal Meninga (right) aim to keep the Rugby League World Cup close when they play England in the final tomorrow. Photo / AAP

England players have urged Wayne Bennett to stay on as coach no matter the result of tomorrow's drought-breaking Rugby League World Cup final against the Kangaroos.

Not since Andrew Johns broke English hearts by steering Australia to an 16-8 triumph in 1995 have England reached the decider of the tournament. Bennett has largely been credited for re-igniting an England side that bounced back from a tournament-opening loss to the Kangaroos to reach the final in Brisbane.

Star fullback Gareth Widdop said the team had improved under Bennett's watch and hoped the veteran mentor would extend his stay when his two-year contract expires tomorrow.

"He's a great coach. He's been around the game a long time. He knows how to get the best out of players and we've certainly improved as a team," Widdop said.

"He's taken us to a World Cup final, it's been 22 years. He's obviously doing something right. I'm sure there'll be some decisions after the game."

Halfback Luke Gale said Bennett's success in the representative arena proved his ability to inspire teams in short build-ups.

Bennett won five of seven State of Origin series in charge of Queensland, and is also widely credited — as Stephen Kearney's assistant — for helping New Zealand upset Australia in the 2008 World Cup final.

"I love him. I think he's a great bloke. The lads love his company," Gale said. "He does the camp really well. I think we've been seven or eight weeks now, he's obviously been involved in a lot of camps, be it Origin, New Zealand. He just gets it. He does it really well. He gets you nice and relaxed, gets you happy. I couldn't speak highly enough about him. We'll get Saturday out of the way and hopefully he keeps on."

Bennett recalled how his primary objective when he took over last year was to make England competitive again, but was predictably coy when asked about his international future.

"I wanted England to be hopefully more competitive, I wanted them to be where we are today, I suppose," he said. "That's what I thought, that it would add a great deal of interest to it all if we could get England back to that place where they should be and hopefully they can stay there.

"I haven't thought (about the future). I just want to get to Saturday night. We've a big game coming up on Saturday and that's my priority. I'll worry about it afterwards."

Meanwhile, Jillaroos co-captain Ruan Sims predicts a "brawl" when Australia defend their women's World Cup title against perennial heavyweights New Zealand tomorrow.

Australia go into the curtain raiser match as favourites after remaining unbeaten in 2017, including a 16-4 win over the Kiwi Ferns in May's Anzac test in Canberra.

Sims won't sugar-coat what to expect in the grand final. "It's like those close siblings or close cousins that, once you get in the backyard, you just brawl every single time," she said of Australia's rivalry with New Zealand.

"Every game has been physical, tough and, more importantly, skilful. The Kiwis are very, very strong. They have been the pinnacle of the game for an extended period of time.

"I guarantee you it will be a very physical affair on Saturday."