Bennett backs Burgess and Graham as World Cup coaching duo; Brigginshaw is leaving Origin

“They are young and they have an eye for it and I know what they are made of.

“Sam is coaching at the moment so James could be an assistant. You just want them on the team because they care and respect everyone who played during their era.”

“They have to go that route and pick those guys because of what they bring.

The rise of New Zealand, Tonga and Samoa means they are genuine World Cup contenders, along with cheap favorites and host nation Australia, whose coach Walters is expected to remain top of the table for the tournament, which will be played locally in October and November.

England, Bennett said, had the talent and experience to push deep into the tournament – and the game as a whole would thrive with a competitive England side.

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Bennett said the tournament would be “the most competitive cup ever” and there were “three or four nations capable of winning that haven’t been able to win in the past”.

While the Kiwis, Samoans and Tongans are loaded with NRL talent, Bennett said it was also easy to forget that Fiji reached the quarter-finals in 2022 and the semi-finals in 2017 and 2013.

England featured plenty of NRL talent including one of the game’s best centers Herbie Farnworth, AJ Brimson, Morgan Smithies, new Wests Tigers recruit Kai Pearce-Paul, while the likes of Roosters Victor Radley will enter the World Cup fray.

Brigginshaw leaves State of Origin

Queensland captain Ali Brigginshaw has announced his immediate retirement from State of Origin football.

The Maroons’ top player in the NRLW was told on Friday she had decided to focus on her final season in Brisbane.

By their high standards, Brigginshaw endured a disappointing Origin 2025 campaign and was deployed for the third game of the series.

The 36-year-old utility said immediately after the Maroons’ 2-1 series loss that she was willing to play on, but has since reconsidered her future.

“After many restless nights in the off-season, I have decided to end my time in the Origin arena and focus all my energies on the Broncos for the coming season, which will be my last in rugby league,” Brigginshaw said.

“I can’t put into words what it meant to me to play for Queensland. I felt bulletproof when I pulled on the Maroon jersey.”

“Historical moments, amazing teams and great friends.”

Brigginshaw has not missed a game for the Maroons since the start of the NRLW era in 2018, captaining the side in 12 of those 13 matches.

She previously played seven international games for Queensland, the first of which came in 2009 as a 19-year-old.

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Brigginshaw started the Origin era at half, lock and five-eighth for the Maroons and in 2024 led the side to a historic inaugural three-match series victory.

Lauren Brown started at fly-half in place of Brigginshaw for Origin III last year and looms as an option to partner Tarryn Aiken in the halves for 2026.

The women’s State of Origin series starts in Newcastle on April 30, with the NRLW season starting in July.

Broncos veteran Brigginshaw announced last year that she would retire after the reigning premiers’ 2026 campaign.

At the time, she pointed to continued speculation about her playing future as weighing on her decision to retire.

with AAP