By Michael Chammas and Adam Pengilly
Wayne Bennett has agreed to terms on a $3 million, three-year deal after meeting with South Sydney officials in Brisbane on Monday.
The deal has not been signed, but Rabbitohs officials flew to Queensland on Monday to work out the terms of his agreement.
South Sydney powerbrokers have lined up a meeting with Bennett at Magic Round this weekend where it is expected he will put pen to paper on a contract that will see him return to Sydney next season.
Sources with knowledge of the situation not authorised to speak about it publicly told this masthead the deal includes performance bonuses aligned with South Sydney’s results on the field.
Rabbitohs officials are reluctant to celebrate the deal given Bennett’s history of 11th-hour changes, most famously reneging on verbal agreements to previously join the Sydney Roosters, and a second stint at the St George Illawarra.
Rabbitohs chief executive Blake Solly led the negotiations and was one of several South Sydney officials to meet with Bennett earlier this week.
Wayne Bennett is set to return to South Sydney with no end date placed on his second coming at the club.Credit: Getty
Part-owner Russell Crowe was not at the meeting, but has been in dialogue with Bennett through the process.
When contacted on Wednesday morning, South Sydney declined to comment.
The Rabbitohs are expected to formally announce the deal after their meeting with Bennett during Magic Round.
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