Super League coaches hammer Bennett

Coach Wayne Bennett has been blamed for Super League schedule changes that critics believe will ensure England are burnt out by October's World Cup.

England players will be "bent, knackered and fatigued" by October's World Cup due to Wayne Bennett's botched plans, according to a leading Super League coach.

Hull FC mentor Lee Radford says changes made to the Super League schedule this year to cater for an England pre-season camp that was later scrapped will come back to haunt the Poms.

England coach Bennett was forced to call off a pre-season camp in January in Dubai for the national squad after a backlash from Super League coaches over fatigue concerns.

However, changes to the Super League schedule to cater for the pre-season camp remained, ensuring two cramped rounds this year with some teams playing three games in nine days.

The Super League competition was also compacted to cater for England's Test clash with Samoa last month in Campbelltown.

As a result Radford had Bennett in his sights, saying the tough schedule would prove too much for England players.

"Nobody wants England to win the World Cup more than I do. But you're going to send our troops over there bent, knackered and fatigued," he told BBC Sport.

Radford also wasn't impressed by Bennett's view of Super League judging by his last visit to England for the 2016 Four Nations campaign.

"I sat in a room with Wayne Bennett and all he did was tell us that Super League isn't as good as the NRL," Radford said.

"So, come to a Monday game and come to the following week's game and there's your reason why it's not as intense as the NRL - half my team's in the stands (with fatigue).

"Don't criticise our competition when you've had a massive impact in changing the comp, ultimately harming the comp."

Hull FC were one of the worst hit by the congested schedule, backing up on Monday to play Catalans Dragons in France - their second game in four days.

Leeds coach Brian McDermott also believed the schedule changes would catch up with England players.

"You can't keep getting them to go out and run a small marathon with some collision in there. There's a limit to what the human body can take," he said

Bennett ruffled feathers from the outset with Super League coaches when he was handed the England reins ahead of last year's Four Nations while juggling his role with NRL club Brisbane.


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Source: AAP


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