Brisbane are preparing for next week's NRL knockout semi-final as if they will again be without skipper Darius Boyd.
The Broncos skipper missed Friday night's nailbiting 24-22 qualifying final loss to the Sydney Roosters and is no guarantee to recover from his hamstring strain in time to face either Penrith or Manly next week.
Boyd's absence was palpable as the Roosters rocked the Broncos from the opening whistle and forced them into simple errors.
Boyd said earlier in the week that he was no guarantee for week two of the finals and that hamstring injuries were notoriously volatile and couldn't be rushed.
Asked if he expected to have Boyd back when their season goes on the line at Suncorp Stadium next week, Bennett said: "We've got to assume he's not coming back. We get on with life and if he comes back it's a bonus."
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
The Roosters were by far the better side however the Broncos stormed back into the contest with three tries and took the lead with nine minutes remaining thanks to a Corey Oates four-pointer off a Blake Ferguson blunder.
Asked what he was thinking when Oates crossed with nine minutes remaining, a blunt Bennett said: "I didn't think we were going to win the game. We just weren't doing enough to win the game."
He insisted Brisbane's failings could be fixed before next week but conceded their finals campaign would be short-lived if they turned in a repeat performance.
"We'd be lucky to win against the teams that finished 15th and 16th with that effort tonight," Bennett said.
