THE Kiwi camp has been a window into the world of master coach Wayne Bennett for Dragons star Jason Nightingale.

Bennett was recruited by New Zealand as an assistant coach to Stephen Kearney for tonight's Centenary Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Hired to lead a Kiwi resurgence after a horror international representative season last year, Bennett will also take over at St George Illawarra next year.

And unless serving coach Nathan Brown and the Dragons can turn around their disappointing 2-5 start to the season and win the title this year, Bennett will have the job of breaking a 30-year premiership drought at St George Illawarra.

Speaking from the Kiwi camp at Bondi Beach yesterday, Nightingale said he had been impressed by the six-time Brisbane Broncos premiership coach.

"He's been really good this week," he said.

"It is good to see how he operates and the way it works with his coaching.

"You can have a chat to him any time," Nightingale said.

"It has helped me this week and he's taught me a few things here and there."

On the same day Nightingale was named to make his debut for the Kiwis last week he signed a new three-year deal with the Dragons, the first off-contract player to secure his future under Bennett.

Born in Sydney, Nightingale has a distinctly Australian accent, but his parents are New Zealanders and he spent the first four years of his life on the other side of the Tasman.

The 21-year-old said he has revelled being around Kearney and Bennett, as well as New Zealand greats Stacey Jones and Ruben Wiki, during this week's training camp.

The team had a training session yesterday afternoon and will have another light run before tonight's clash with Australia.

"We'll keep it low key," Nightingale said of the final build-up to the game.

"The coaches haven't put too much pressure on us this week, but there is plenty of belief among the group."