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Message: [QUOTE="Super Freak, post: 2743717, member: 8536"] WAYNE Bennett has criticised Mal Meninga and John Grant for naming the Australian team a week early, saying it mentally drained his Broncos players ahead of their loss to Cronulla. The Kangaroos broke from tradition to name their side last Tuesday, when they usually wait until that round’s games are completed before announcing the side. While Bennett said the Sharks were the better team on the day, his felt his players “didn’t turn up” in the first half in part because they were thinking of Friday’s Test. Brisbane had five players named in the Kangaroos side while four were on Sunday night named in the New Zealand team coached by Broncos assistant Stephen Kearney. “I’m not making excuses but I was pretty disappointed when they named the team early this week,” Bennett said. “We haven’t done that before and it is just not good. “Especially guys like Josh McGuire who has never played for Australia before. “It only takes three or four guys to be off in this competition and you are under pressure. “That’s not the reason we lost but it is part of the fact. “I kept the Australian and Kiwi players back yesterday and I told them because I knew what was going on with them. “It is not good policy. They would rather find out tonight.” Bennett of course went after the Australian job but lost out to Meninga and is now coach of England. The Broncos were flat in the first 40 minutes and trailed 28-6 at halftime and had no right to be any chance of winning the game which they eventually lost 30-28 Cowboys coach Paul Green had similar sentiments on Saturday night. Green said the Cowboys’ second-half fade against Manly was the result of his Test players looking towards Friday’s international. Green said their second half was disappointing and laid the blame at the feet of his Kangaroos and Kiwi players. Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott, Michael Morgan and James Tamou will play for Australia while Jason Taumalolo will play for New Zealand. Manly scored two tries in the final ten minutes, including one through the middle of the Cowboys’ defence. “I was disappointed in our second half effort,” he said. “It was a tough game for everyone to prepare for given that everyone knows they are playing next week so they have to get through this game. “Mentally that showed, particularly in the second half. “Some of them thought we had the game locked up so lets get this over and done with and move on to next week.” [url]http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/wayne-bennett-criticises-early-naming-of-kangaroos-test-team-after-broncos-beaten-by-sharks/news-story/0731b867ed684813dd2b3ddc58e29ff9[/url] [/QUOTE]

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