Ricky Stuart may be feeling the heat but Wayne Bennett and Craig Bellamy are adamant they don't want his job, and even feel some empathy with the embattled Kangaroos coach.

Stuart's reappointment as national coach remains up in the air following Australia's shock loss to New Zealand in last month's World Cup final and as he is investigated over an abusive outburst at referee Ashley Klein in a hotel lobby.

Bennett, Bellamy and Queensland coach Mal Meninga have all been listed in a market framed by a betting agency, although Stuart remains a $1.25 favourite to remain in the job.

At his first training session with new club St George Illawarra on Monday, Bennett laughed off suggestions he might return to the green and gold which he quit in 2005 after losing a Tri-Nations final to New Zealand in England.

But the 58-year-old did say he could understand the pressure Stuart was under following the World Cup final loss.

"It's a pretty lonely feeling coaching Australia, it's a different thing to coaching anyone else," he said.

"The challenge lies in the fact Australia has got such an inevitable record.

"When you lose a game it's just a whole different feeling, you feel that you've kind of failed a little bit.

"Test series and World Cups, Australian coaches haven't lost too many of them. We're in a pretty small minority."

Bennett contributed to Australia's woes this year as an adviser assisting Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney.

Storm coach Bellamy said if Stuart was not retained as Kangaroos boss there was no way he would be looking to take on the position.

"Nah, I've got enough on my plate already," said Bellamy who already has dual roles again in 2009, agreeing last week to stay on as NSW State of Origin coach.

That, says Bellamy, is difficult enough and was only agreed after the NSWRL promised to delegate certain off-field duties.

"I had to think about whether it would affect Melbourne too much - there were some concerns after the Origin series and I had to think pretty deeply about that," said Bellamy, who coached the Blues to a 2-1 series loss this year.

"We've come up with a couple of ways that can help me time-wise, and now I'm sure I can fit it all in.

"It's something I really wanted to do again, coach NSW.

"Last year I really enjoyed the involvement with the players and hopefully we can go one better this year."

Bellamy guided defending premiers the Storm to a third straight NRL grand final, though they were trounced 40-0 by Manly in the premiership decider.

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