NRL: Bennett backs commission

St George Illawarra coach Wayne Bennett has given tentative backing to the proposed independent commission to run the NRL.

But the six-time premiership coach, one of only a few NRL coaches who did not attend a meeting on the commission proposal last week in Sydney, believes the current administration has the game in good shape.

"We've got a game that was extremely successful last year on the field, so they must be doing something right," Bennett said yesterday.

"The quality of football is outstanding, the commitment of the players, it was as good a season as I've seen for a long time.

"If you're a football club, you're always looking for ways to improve yourself so I'd like to think that those that govern the game are thinking there are better ways to do it.

"If there are, then that's what they should be looking for."

But Bennett refused to elaborate on what shape he thinks the commission should take, saying it mattered little what NRL coaches opinions were.

"It won't need the coaches' good will because they make plenty of decisions without our good will," Bennett said.

"That's a waste of time and space worrying about what the coaches think is going to happen in the future to the commission or anything else."

Bennett's South Sydney counterpart, John Lang, was uncertain if the commission would be set up in time for this season's kickoff on March 12.

But speaking at the launch of next month's Charity Shield fixture between the Dragons and the Rabbitohs, Lang said he believed support for the idea would all but ensure a commission takes over at some time.

"My gut feeling is, if it's ready to go for next season they've done well."

- AAP