Wayne Bennett

In 20 appearances in the green and gold, Boyd is yet to finish on the losing side and wants to ensure facing a Bennett-coached team will be the only first he'll experience at the London Olympic Stadium next Sunday.

England have a history of coming up just short against the world's best sides and they already face a mountain to climb in the competition following a narrow defeat to a Kiwis outfit inspired by Shaun Johnson.

The scrum-half broke England hearts in the 2013 World Cup semi-finals and he tormented Bennett's team on Saturday with his brilliant kicking game, adding a try and the winning drop goal to crown a man-of-the-match performance.

The veteran Australian handed out five new caps in the absence of his skipper Sam Burgess and five players from the Super League grand final and watched his new-look, somewhat experimental side gain a 40-6 victory over a spirited France in Avignon.

Marshall’s manager Martin Tauber revealed how a heart-to-heart with Bennett saved his NRL career, with the veteran playmaker telling the super coach: “I don’t want to retire.”

Bennett’s lifeline to Marshall is genuine with Brisbane’s recruitment-and-retention committee to rubberstamp a contract offer by Friday.

Bennett is in discussions with Marshall about the prospect of the former Kiwi Test star joining the Broncos for a one-year swan song.

The revelations fuelled rumours Hunt could be squeezed out of Red Hill to link with ex-Broncos five-eighth Corey Norman at Parramatta.

In England preparing for the upcoming Four Nations tournament, Bennett has quashed speculation Hunt could be forced out of Brisbane.

“If Benji comes to the Broncos, and that is still an if, he will not be replacing Ben Hunt or Anthony Milford,” Bennett told The Courier-Mail.

Bennett – who is in his second stint at the Broncos – will be in charge of the English national side when the tournament gets underway on October 29 (AEDT).

The master coach previously helped the Kiwis take down the Kangaroos at the 2008 Rugby League World Cup and will be out for more success in what shapes as his first series in charge of England.  

Thaiday told NRL.com that it would be "weird" to come up against the man who handed him his NRL debut, but conceded it wouldn't be anything new. 

Eight NRL players, including Sam Burgess, have been included but the former Kangaroos mentor has omitted some established names as he looks to guide his adopted nation to a first ever tournament success.

He faces a one week ban unless he can beat the charge at the judiciary.

While the Broncos are yet to lodge a plea, if Roberts is sidelined, Wayne Bennett will be forced into changing his backline.

Tom Opacic missed last week’s match with a shoulder injury but is expected to be fit to return to the filed this week.

Opacic, 22, has played eight games in his rookie season and averages 78 metres per game.

He’s scored four tries and made 14 tackles busts.

Coach Wayne Bennett confirmed on Wednesday that neither Reed nor Nikorima will play again this season, with Reed’s ongoing arthritis issues threatening to end the 28-year-old’s career.

Kiwi international Nikorima will also be out of the Broncos finals campaign and most likely New Zealand’s Four Nations tournament as well in November.

Having already had four separate surgeries on his troublesome shoulders in the past, Reed’s future has been clouded since the English international admitted the chronic injuries could affect him for the rest of his life.

The Broncos struggled for field position all night, greatly missing the six players out of the match on State of Origin duty. 

Eighteen-year-old Jaydn Su'A made his debut alongside fellow debutant, 20-year-old Tevita Pangai Jnr, and the Broncos also had 20-year-olds Joe Ofahengaue and Jai Arrow in their side. 

The young Broncos forward pack were no match for the experience of the Tigers' big men, but Bennett says they will be better for it.