08-07-2025
Phil Gould slams Wayne Bennett's Kangaroos ineligibility as decision on Mal Meninga's replacement looms
Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould has lashed the ARLC rule that appears set to cost Wayne Bennett a chance to coach the Kangaroos again.
The Australian side is on the hunt for a new coach after Mal Meninga was forced to relinquish the role after agreeing to become the Perth Bears' inaugural coach last month.
Under the current rules set by the commission, the national coach can't also be a head coach of an NRL team.
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And it is that very rule that is set to prevent Bennett – who last coached the Kangaroos in 2005 – from being in the running to become the new coach.
It is understood that the coaching legend is interested in the top job, especially ahead of the Ashes series against England later this year.
But unless there is a rule change – which appears unlikely – Bennett will be ineligible.
The commission is set to vote on whether to change the rule on Wednesday, with both Bennett and Raiders coach Rick Stuart understood to be potentially willing to take on coaching the Australian team as well as their club side.
But according to Michael Chammas, a change to the rules is 'unlikely', which led to Phil Gould unleashing.
'I can't see why not (why an NRL coach can't. I really can't see why not,' Gould said on 100% Footy.
'I don't know why it changed back in the old days, they're the best coaches, they're the ones with the best jobs, they're the ones equipped to do it so I can't see why they wouldn't allow it.'
Who is in the running to be the next Kangaroos coach?
If Bennett and Stuart are ruled out as expected, the next coach appears to be a two-horse race between Cameron Smith and Kevin Walters.
Walters was overlooked for the Bears job in favour of Meninga and is said to be eager to return to coaching.
While Smith has received ringing endorsements from former teammates who believe he is the perfect man to mentor the green and gold.
'His credentials and resume is probably the best that the game's ever seen,' Maroons captain Cameron Munster said last week.
'When he talks, you listen. If you don't know Cameron Smith, you will eventually when he talks to you.
'He's got that aura about him. He's a bit like Mal.
'I know he's a Queenslander, but he'll pick the best possible squad for the Aussies that he thinks is going to get the job done. There's no better person than Smithy to get the job.'
And Smith, who played a whopping 56 Tests for Australia, has put his hand up for the role.
'It's huge, isn't it? I grew up watching Ashes tours where Australia would play Great Britain or England,' he said.
'I never got to play in one, but that's a huge lure to be a part of such a prestigious and historic tour. It hasn't been done for a long, long time – over 20 years – so it would be great to be a part of.'
The rugby league Ashes will commence after the NRL season, with the first game to be played at London's Wembley Stadium on October 25 – just 20 days after the NRL grand final.
