BENNETT’S SECRET TALKS WITH EXPANSION HOPEFULS
By Peter Badel
Wayne Bennett has held secret talks with the Brisbane Jets as the super coach plots his future beyond his quest to deliver a premiership to South Sydney.
News Corp can reveal Bennett met with officials from the NRL’s prospective 17th team, the
Ipswich-based Jets, in the lead-up to Friday night’s grand-final qualifier between Souths and Manly at Suncorp Stadium.
The meeting, held on Saturday at South Sydney’s hotel on the Gold Coast, was instigated by the Jets, who outlined their vision to bring Bennett back to the Ipswich region where he launched his coaching career.
The ARL Commission held a board meeting on Thursday and it is understood League Central’s analysis of expansion suggests the Telstra Premiership is
ready for a second Brisbane team for the 2023 season.
That scenario would perfectly set the scene for Bennett to return to Queensland and spearhead a new second Brisbane franchise, taking on the Broncos club that famously sacked him in 2018.
Bennett’s unwavering focus is steering Souths to the 2021 premiership, including Friday night’s Sea Eagles sudden-death showdown, but that hasn’t stopped the Jets ramping-up their plans to snare the NRL’s greatest coach.
Jets bid chief Nick Livermore confirmed the meeting with Bennett, the Souths coach’s third catch-up with the western-corridor bid following their maiden round of talks in February.
“We believe Wayne is the perfect fit for our franchise,” Livermore said.
“I know the other two bids (Dolphins and Firehawks) will be looking to sign Wayne but he started his coaching career at Ipswich and has ties to the western corridor.
“It was an informal chat. We totally respect the fact Wayne has more important matters on his mind, he has two more games to try and win a premiership and we don’t want to distract him from winning the title at Souths.
“Our timing wasn’t ideal given Wayne is trying to win the premiership, but we know a final decision on expansion is imminent, so we wanted to get some clarity.
“We want Wayne to be an integral part of what we do. We wanted to give Wayne an update on our bid for the licence and the role we want him to play for us if we are successful in becoming Brisbane’s second team.”
Bennett declined to comment when contacted by News Corp, saying Souths’ grand-final mission is his priority, but Livermore believes the 71-year-old is open to coaching the Jets.
“Wayne is absolutely keen to coach us, that’s unequivocally clear, but we don’t have a licence yet,” he said.
“Wayne indicated he was interested in coaching the Jets.
“I asked him what his thoughts were and he said, ‘I’m not done, I have plenty to offer’. Wayne keeps showing that.
“Whichever team comes in, players want to be coached by Wayne. What he did in the Origin arena last year was remarkable and we would love to see Wayne reconnect with the western corridor and go head-to-head with the club he helped create at the Broncos.
“The reality is we don’t have a licence yet. Hopefully he can one day join us ... Benny and the Jets sounds great, but if we miss out, Benny versus the Broncos with a second Brisbane team is not a bad narrative either.
“We’ll look to talk with Wayne again after the grand final.”
Souths skipper Adam Reynolds, who will join the Broncos next season, said Bennett would be the ideal figurehead for a second Brisbane team.
“Wayne is familiar with the area and knows what captures the love of all the Brisbane people,” he said.
“Wayne certainly has a love for the Queensland area. He has spent most of his life up here and would be a great ambassador for a second Brisbane club.”
