Bennett set to re-sign for Brisbane

Brisbane CEO Paul White says coach Wayne Bennett, far from pondering retirement, is close to re-signing with the NRL club for another two years.

News Corp reported on Wednesday that Bennett had clinched a $1.8 million extension that would keep him at the Broncos until the end of 2019.

White said an announcement was “imminent”.

“We are really close,” he said.

Bennett, 66, had been expected to contemplate retirement at the end of his current deal in 2017.

But White is personally brokering the new Bennett deal after the master coach led Brisbane to the 2015 NRL grand final last year.

“I am personally very relaxed about it and so is Wayne and we will let people know in due course when it is finalised,” White said of the seven-time premiership winning coach.

“It is imminent and should be formalised in a matter of weeks.”

Bennett – who will also hold the England team reins until the 2017 World Cup – returned to Brisbane last season after seven years away, guiding them to the 2015 decider against North Queensland.

They will face their grand final conquerors the Cowboys at what is expected to be a sold out Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

A new deal would put Bennett on track to become the first person to coach 800 NRL games.

Friday night’s blockbuster will mark game No.739 for Bennett.

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