Now announced as head coach www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/35472600

Now announced as head coach www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/35472600

Hopefully Powel as assistant with a view to taking over completely after the World Cup.

Apart from winning the only major final he's appeared in - kicking the winning points for Hull in the Challenge Cup final

I don't think it's Brough that chokes, it's the rest of his team-mates... Obviously going to be Wane, Powell or McDermott as his No. 2...

just hope Bennett doesn't go recruiting average NRL players who can't get a game for Australia but who qualify through a great grandparent, when we have plenty of young talent pushing through in SL at the moment.

This is great news. Bennett is a legend of the game, he has an axe to grind with the Aussies who didn't give him the kangaroo job, so he'll be well-motivated, and we'll have players falling over themselves to get into his squad because they know it'll be a first class experience, rather than an off-season distraction with an assistant coach.

Great move by the RFL, in my view. And that's not a sentence I type very often.

That was 11 years ago, he kicked a goal from in front of the posts (in a game which Kevin Sinfield won MOM by the way) and has never appeared in a major final since.

He is not and has never been the answer to Englands problems.

Very happy with Bennett's appointment, he seems genuinely passionate about the international game and has been heaping praise on the England team. Someone with his experience and ability will push the team just that little bit extra and I would like to think that we will win one of the two tournaments he will be coaching in.

This ^

Which was one of the biggest travesties in Cup Final history might I add!

Not really the votes were in whilst the rhinos were winning

Anyway, he's 33 now, so he's hardly the future, either way.

I'm surprised but pleased. He'll have the respect of his team and perhaps most importantly he's a great psychological coach, who may get England to play to their absolute best and with no fear, which they need to do to have a chance of beating Australia when it counts.

If everyone is fit we have our best squad in a long time, with half back the glaring weakness. Having said that if Widdopp picks his game up we could be down to one halfback as a problem in the first 17. Compared to teams we've put out in the last decade that is a huge improvement.

Sadly, I'm not convinced that Widdop is a better option than several in SL. Cooper Cronk doesn't win many games by outstanding individual ability, but he wins plenty by doing the simple things well and precisely. Which is exactly what's needed.

I'm not that convinced by Widdopp either, which is why I caveat with saying its important that he kicks on. The good news is that Bennett will see plenty of him in action for St George this year.