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Mal Meninga: Wayne Bennett wants Australia job

Australia head coach Mal Meninga took a pop at "mastercoach" Wayne Bennett by claiming the England boss wants his job ahead of the Four Nations.

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Australia head coach Mal Meninga took aim at "master coach" Wayne Bennett by claiming the England boss wants his job ahead of the Four Nations.

Bennett was appointed as Steve McNamara's successor in February and is preparing for his first tournament at the helm on home soil, which starts next Friday.

The 66-year-old, who also coaches NRL side Brisbane Broncos, will be aiming to get one over on his countrymen when the two sides lock horns at London Stadium on November 13, but Meninga believes his opposite number has designs on taking charge of the Kangaroos.

"He wants my job but he hasn't got it," Meninga told reporters after the world champions landed in England.

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"So obviously he'll be trying his damnedest to usurp me. We'll see what happens."

Asked if he thought Bennett had agreed to take charge of England to prove a point, Meninga said: "I don't know. You'll have to ask him that question.

"But I still think it's good for international rugby league, having the best coach, the master coach, coaching England.

"Hopefully they'll play really well and make the series an exciting one."

Meninga also claimed he has no issues with Bennett amid the early verbal sparring.

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He added: "It's not personal. It's a bit of fun hopefully. A bit of banter doesn't go astray. It's nice to have this sort of thing in a Four Nations tournament.

"But it's about the teams and how well they perform."

Australia take on Scotland in the first game of the Four Nations at Lightstream Stadium in Hull next Friday.

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