Delighted Bennett will coach Broncos in 2019
Author
Joel GouldNRL.com Reporter
Timestamp
Sat 24 Nov 2018, 12:12 PM
Wayne Bennett will coach the Broncos in 2019 and fulfil his contract after meeting with chairman Karl Morris on Saturday morning about his future, a result the mastercoach said was "great" for all parties.
NRL.com spoke to a delighted Bennett who had never wavered from his intention to coach the side in 2019, before joining the Rabbitohs in 2020.
After much speculation about a potential coaching swap with Rabbitohs coach Anthony Seibiold, who will join the Broncos in 2020, Bennett said the players, club and supporters all had certainty about the future.
"It gives everybody clarity – the team and the club – and we can all get on with playing good footy," Bennett told NRL.com
"I had a meeting with the chairman this morning and I asked him what was happening in 2019 and he said 'nothing has changed Wayne. I gave you a commitment you would be here in 2019 and that is the way it is going to remain'.
"This is a young team and it is going to be exciting. It will be a challenge in what is a long footy season but they have got some games behind them now some of those younger players. I am pretty optimistic we can have a good season and with a bit of luck who knows what we can do.
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"We have got quality players in the team. That is half the battle and it is our job to teach them how to be good."
Bennett said he had not had any discussions with Souths about joining the club early, despite reports to the contrary.
"It was always sorted out in my mind. I had never wavered about the fact that I did not want to leave the Broncos but it is nice that the chairman has said again, as he did in the past, that I am here until 2019," Bennett said
"There were a lot of rumours and innuendo flying around but the bottom line is that he has put that to rest and we can all move forward."
The Broncos have put out a one-sentence statement on Saturday's development which says that "Wayne Bennett is our coach for 2019, as we have stated repeatedly over the past year."
There are former players who have said Bennett coaching the club for an entire season before joining Souths can't work but he has made it work before at Canberra in 1987, the Broncos in 2008 and at Newcastle in 2014.
"I have been in this situation before and I know what I have got to do. I am confident it won't be a problem," Bennett said.
"At the Knights we lost our first couple of games after I told everybody (he was moving on) but we won eight out of 11 to finish the season.
"When I was at Canberra we made the grand final. This time I know the boys will support me and it won't be an issue for us, now that we have got the clarity."
Bennett said it was also a great outcome for his football department staff who now also have clarity about their futures.
