Dumped Broncos coach Ivan Henjak in running for Brisbane NRL expansion club
IT all ended in tears at the Broncos, but Ivan Henjak could yet land himself a second coming as an NRL coach ... right across town.
Brisbane expansion bid team spokesman Craig Davison yesterday said Henjak would be considered an option to pilot the playing roster of a possible Suncorp Stadium-based arch rival to the Broncos, gunning for NRL entry in 2013.
But the axed Broncos coach would join a short list of potential coaching suitors for Brisbane's expansion team only if top targets, Wayne Bennett and Craig Bellamy were off the market.
Henjak's technical knowledge, at the least, makes him a valuable property as a coaching staff member should a return to an NRL head coach role prove elusive.
"Ivan's a very good tactical coach and if he wasn't working, you'd have to rule him in like every other coach that was available," Davison said.
"I'm not only interested in profile. I firmly believe that football teams need good coaches to be winning teams, end of story.
"There's two great coaches in the country (Bennett and Bellamy), followed by a number of good coaches, but we'll look at the whole bunch. I've said from the outset we want the best and we'll go after the best that are available."
The Brisbane consortium has let it be known Bennett and Bellamy are viewed as a cut above the rest in their field and will be head-hunted as inaugural coach if available.
But it is highly unlikely either coach will be available. Bennett will probably settle his future from next year before any NRL expansion is even given the green light, as expected, in mid-year.
The Courier-Mail stands by its story, published on Wednesday, that Henjak attempted to resign from his Broncos post last October.
Henjak and the then Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen have not returned calls from The Courier-Mail which sought comment.
Bennett's signature may also necessitate a break from NRL coaching in 2012, when the Brisbane club would need to prepare for possible NRL entry, something Bennett may be unwilling to do.
Bellamy, signed at the Storm for another three seasons, has also let it be known he is in "for the long haul" in Melbourne.
Davison declined to return fire on an emotional attack by rival bid Central Queensland, in which CQ chairman Geoff Murphy accused the Brisbane bid of showing a "lack of respect" by dragging Bennett and Sam Thaiday into the "Battle for Brisbane".
"We wish CQ all the best, they are very passionate people and you see it coming out in spades," Davison said.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...r-expansion-club/story-e6frep5x-1226011635446
