Bennett has been scolded by UK and Australian rugby league circles for failing to properly promote the game on the back of several “cold” interviews in which the master coach delivered one word answers following England matches.

But in typical Bennett style, the England coach did not mince his words.   

"I started coaching in 1977 and they started bagging me then and nothing's changed in 2016," he said.

"I'll tell you about promoting rugby league. You can talk to any marketing department. They don't want you to be goofing it off and talking it up when your team is getting beat every week because they won't sell a ticket.

"My job is to get the best out of those players and give you the best entertainment I possibly can."

Bennett said talking for the sake of it was not good for the game.

"What you say away from the game is immaterial,” he said.

"That has been my philosophy all my coaching life and I am not interested in cheap talk. I am not interested in getting out there thinking I can promote the game by something that I say.

"I know if the team ... play well and everyone enjoys what they're doing, there won't be any shortage of fans or people interested."

Bennett said he did not even follow the news.

"I don't read anything you (the media) write any more," he said.

"I haven't for over a decade now. I watch television shows but when some rugby league comes on I turn it off.

"I see lots of guys doing interviews and they are wasting their time and space.

"It doesn't make any sense. They are just playing the game and I can't play the game."