Kangaroos coach Wayne Bennett had backing among the first group of players to return from Britain after Australia's spectacular Tri Nations final defeat at the hands of New Zealand.

Mark O'Meley, Ben Kennedy and Trent Barrett made quick getaways from Sydney Airport, leaving Craig Gower to reluctantly face awaiting media.

And Gower offered strong backing for his coach when asked what the future held for Bennett after the weekend's 24-0 defeat in Leeds, which ended Australia's 27-year dominance of international rugby league.

"My thoughts is he's a great coach, you know, I've got the utmost respect for him, I suppose that's (the future) up to the hierarchy at the ARL," Gower told journalists, declining to comment on what other members of the squad thought on the issue.

He said the result had definitely sunk in and the team had been greatly affected by the result.

"I suppose it was one of the worst moments for us as players and to get beaten over there and lose the trophy, it's pretty disappointing," he said.

"There're no excuses there, we got beaten by a better side and we didn't play to our potential."

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