‘I’M AVAILABLE’: BENNETT ON 17TH SIDE
WAYNE Bennett says he is ready to sign with a second Brisbane team, but has warned the NRL’s 17th franchise of the perils of trying to take on the might of the Broncos.
As the ARL Commission prepares to announce the winning expansion licence this week, Bennett revealed he was prepared to put consultancy offers on hold in the hope of spearheading a new Brisbane outfit.
The super coach, who turns 72 in January, spoke of the challenges facing a second Brisbane team, and the mistakes they must avoid following the death of the South Qld Crushers in 1997.
For the first time in 45 years, Bennett is currently out of work.
His status as South Sydney coach ceased after last Sunday’s grand-final loss to Penrith, prompting Bennett to return to his family farm in Warwick, tending to his cows, as a free agent.
He won’t need a trip to Centrelink. The NRL’s three prospective franchises – the Firehawks, Jets and Dolphins – all have Bennett on their hit list and the winning Brisbane bid will almost certainly unveil the seven-time premiership winner as their foundation coach for 2023.
Bennett insists he has no allegiance to any bid, but if the expansion mail is right, he will be the inaugural coach of the NRL’s Dolphins.
“I will say this – I am certainly interested in being part of a new Brisbane team and I will be happy to have talks with whoever that may be,” Bennett said ahead of the ARL’s historic announcement this week.
“I am just awaiting the outcome of the ARL Commission’s decision.
“I have no bias to any bid. If any of the three bid teams want to talk, I’m available.”
The veteran of 890 NRL games has fielded some inquiries to operate as a mentor for emerging coaches. South Sydney is also keen for Bennett to continue as a Queensland-based consultant. “I will wait for
I know exactly what to do because I did it with the Broncos. Wayne Bennett
this expansion process goes and where it finishes up,” Bennett said.
The second Brisbane team will be operational from November 1. If Bennett is hired as head coach, he will hit the ground running, talking to player managers, assessing potential recruits, implementing structures and constructing the 30-man fulltime roster to ensure the second Brisbane team is competitive from day one.
There is a view the second Brisbane team will not have enough lead-in time to piece together a competitive roster for 2023, but Bennett disagrees.
“We still have another 12 months before the second Brisbane team starts their pre-season. That’s plenty of time to sign players and get things right, you would be laughing,” he said.
“I know exactly what to do because I did it with the Broncos. With the Broncos, I walked out of Canberra (as co-coach) and straight into the Broncos job.”
Bennett said he believed the new team would not impact on the Broncos in terms of fan support and sponsorships.