The stalemate looks set to continue at Brisbane after chief executive Paul White refused to clarify the club’s long-term plan and whether it involves Wayne Bennett beyond 2019.
White fronted media at Red Hill on Friday morning in an attempt to quell speculation around the coaching job, shutting down reports former South Sydney coach Michael Maguire had been offered a three-year-deal at the club.
Bennett is off contract at the end of next season and wants to continue as an NRL coach, but White refused to detail the club’s long-term plan except to say the master coach wouldn’t be sacked ahead of next season.
The 69-year-old Bennett, who has been at the helm for all six of Brisbane’s premierships, has indicated he won’t walk away before his contracted expires.
It means all signs lead to the master coach remaining at Red Hill next season.
But what happens beyond that remains a mystery, with White refusing to confirm reports Bennett had been offered a non-coaching role at the club from 2020.
The chief executive and long-time friend of Bennett admitted the pair’s relationship had strained this season, but he is prepared to cop the flak as he takes a patient approach.
“Half the coaches in the competition are off contract in 2019,” he told media the morning after the Broncos’ 38-18 defeat of South Sydney.
“Time’s on our side here; we’ve got 14 months until we have to make a decision.
“We’re not going to be rushed into a decision.”
White conceded the club had opened a can of worms by chasing Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy earlier this year.
But he said the fact the in-demand mentor was off-contract this season meant it would’ve been remiss not to investigate the option.
“Yes we went after one coach; we haven’t gone back into the market since,” he said.
White also curiously backed club captain Darius Boyd’s decision to skip the CEO’s club function to dine with Bennett instead, in a move pundits interpreted as a powerplay in favour of the coach.
“The players are entitled to support their coach and I don’t see that as a bad thing,” he said.
“Darius sent me a text message saying he was going over to the coach’s house and I support that.”