“England are very capable of being a lot better than what they are right now, I know that much,” the coaching master told the media after the game. Watched by 35,569 fans, the defeat ended the Lions’ Four Nations title hopes.

“They’re a lot closer than all of you in this room probably realise. I’ve learnt a lot here since I’ve been with them. I’ve learnt they’re a good group of blokes who try really hard. They’ve got a great attitude and are good to be around. That’s what makes me more frustrated than anything. Not so much frustrated today, more angry in my case, because they’re not really showing you how good they can be. I’m disappointed for them.”

Bennett says going forward the England players themselves must work on their ability to absorb pressure in challenging situations. Behind only 10-6, the Poms were well in the contest at half-time, before having 26 points piled on them by the tourists in the second half.

“Until we get these little problems out of the road that are manifested by their club football … I saw the same guys doing the same things this year in their club football; they can’t get away with it at this level.

“That’s the difference: not commitment, not effort, not guys trying hard, not guys with good skills … We scored a couple of wonderful tries there today, and defended at different times really well. It’s all there. They have to understand what beats them. They think the opposition beats them, but they don’t.

“They need to recognise what’s beating them, then change their physical behaviour on the field. When I watch them play next year I’ll know what I’m seeing and what I’m not.

“I don’t come here and talk about something I wouldn’t tell them. Their club coaches are like me; they suffer as a result of things they do. But they get away with it at that level, because it’s not as intense and the competition’s not as great. Playing Australia, you just don’t get away with it, and that’s what happened today … and happened against New Zealand.

“The onus is on the players. I’m only going to be coaching them twice next year for short periods of time, so they have a whole season in front of them. They have to make those changes; I can’t do that. They know what they are …

England centre Mark Percival loses control of the ball at London Stadium. (Photo by Getty Images)

“I’d love to tell you you’ve had a couple of duds there, but you haven’t. There’s lots of talent; I’d love to say they can’t play, but they can play. That’s not the problem. The problem is learning to compete under pressure at this level and execute your plays; they’re the things that make you good. Not beating ourselves.

“Australia were very good today, very clinical; they were on their game. I knew that was going to happen. I’ve spent 30 years as a head coach, so I kind’ve know how it works. We were good despite so many errors, but not good enough.”

Asked if the Super League clubs could be doing more to help England’s cause approaching next year’s World Cup, Bennett claimed they could only do so much; the rest is up to the men out on the field.

“I’m not trying to get the clubs to buy into anything - I want the players to buy into it,” he said. “It’s not only English-based players that have got the problem. The problems are insurmountable [in terms of the World Cup] if they don’t change their attitude in that change room. If they don’t buy into what I’m … What I know, works. And I know it won’t work any other way.”

Following Sunday’s loss to the Aussies, Bennett and his players will be witnessing another Kangaroos vs Kiwis Four Nations final next weekend. The media was keen to gauge from Bennett whether he thought taking up his new national side role had been worth it so far.

“It’s probably been a bit easier than I thought; I thought I’d have a lot more issues to deal with, but I don’t,” he said. “That’s because of the players’ discipline. Club coaches here have done a good job with them in lots of areas. They know how to train properly and well.”