McGillvary: Stop blaming Bennett

Huddersfield and England winger Jermaine McGillvary says the finger should be pointed at the players, not the head coach, after a stuttering Four Nations campaign.

England failed to make the final of the Four Nations, after defeats to New Zealand and Australia.

Wayne Bennet has come in for heavy critcism but McGillvary has defended him.

“You can have the best coach in the world or you can have an amateur coach in there, but if we’re not willing to be a lot smarter than we have and stick in there for longer than what we have, we’re doomed,” he told Love Rugby League.

Bennett was appointed the new head coach earlier this year and McGillvary explained how much of an influence he has had during the short period of time spent in camp for the Four Nations.

“Just being with him for four or five weeks I have learned a lot of new things in my game and about myself,” he said.

“After one training session he told me all about myself and this was without me saying a word to him.”

“He was saying he could get the best out of me but I just needed to be willing to do a few things.”

Looking ahead to the World Cup next year, McGillvary believes England are more than capable of going far with the personnel available.

“It’s not all doom and gloom there is quality in that squad,” he said.

“We just need a plan and we need to go out there and execute it.”

To retain his place in the international side and represent England for the first time at the World Cup would be special, according to the 28-year old.

McGillvary was only drafted into the squad last year during the international series against New Zealand.

“It would be a dream come true,” the Giants flyer said.

“Anything could happen in a year and there’s a lot of good quality players, who play in my position.

“I need to be playing good in my team and my team needs to be doing a lot better than we did last year.”

McGillvary welcomed the organisation of a mid-season Test against Samoa, pointing to the example set by other sports.

“We want to compete on the big stage in international Rugby League like in Union and the only way you’re going to do that is to have more of it,” he said.

“The football manage to do it so why can’t we?”