Dolphins move in on Bennett for new role

NRL expansion hopefuls the Dolphins have entered the race for the signature of Souths super coach Wayne Bennett.

Bennett is in hot demand with Queensland’s three prospective NRL franchises.

The Brisbane Jets have twice held talks with Bennett.

Firehawks bid chief Shane Richardson worked with Bennett at Souths and has big plans for the 71-year-old should the Easts Tigers-backed consortium win the NRL’s 17th licence.

Now Bennett is on the Dolphins’ radar, with the code’s greatest coach reportedly having had preliminary dialogue with officials.

The Dolphins are the raging favourites to be named Brisbane’s second team should expansion go ahead for 2023 or 2024.

Bennett has longstanding ties with Redcliffe chairman Bob Jones and his appointment as the Dolphins’ inaugural coach would set up an explosive rivalry with the Broncos club that sacked him in 2018.

Whichever bid secures his signature, the one certainly is it would not stop Bennett being available to help in a mentoring role with the Queensland Rugby League.