Michael Maguire headhunted to replace Wayne Bennett as Broncos coach

SUPER coach Wayne Bennett’s 25-year reign at Brisbane is all but over with Michael Maguire identified as the man tipped to be his successor at the Broncos.

Brisbane Broncos coach Wayne Bennett will be replaced by. Picture: AAP Image/Albert Perez

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COACH Wayne Bennett’s 25-year reign at Brisbane is all but over with Michael Maguire being identified as a possible successor at the Broncos.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Brisbane have offered Bennett a new front ­office position for 2020 – effectively ending his career as head coach of the Broncos.

The impending exit of Bennett, who has delivered all six premierships to the Broncos, as head coach is one of the most significant chapters in Brisbane’s 30-year history.

Brisbane have discussed making a multimillion-dollar play for Maguire.

When Craig Bellamy knocked back the Brisbane job, he suggested the Broncos touch base with Maguire.

The Broncos have also been linked with South Sydney coach Anthony Seibold, who has put off extension talks with the Rabbitohs until the end of the season.

Broncos chief executive Paul White will hold a press conference as early as today to reiterate the club will honour Bennett’s deal, which expires at the end of next season.

But Bennett will not be Brisbane’s head coach in 2020.

Only an unlikely premiership victory this season will save him.

There remains a possibility Bennett could walk away sooner – possibly joining the Dragons next season – as he digests the reality he is unwanted as head coach at his beloved Broncos beyond next year.

Bennett is aware of the new position being offered to him. It has gone down like a lead balloon with the veteran coach, with sources saying White and club chairman Karl Morris strongly “disagree” with Bennett’s desire to coach the club in 2020.

Morris and White want to respect Bennett’s status by transitioning him into another role, but the 68-year-old is unlikely to accept that offer.

Queensland Origin coach Kevin Walters has been mentioned as a successor to Bennett by virtue of his status as a Broncos great and former assistant coach, but Maguire is in the mix.

Wayne Bennett has been at loggerheads with the Broncos over his future. Picture: AAP Image/Albert Perez

Maguire was announced as Kiwi Test coach in May, but the New Zealand Rugby League is unlikely to stand in the way of him returning to the NRL.

White and Bennett’s friendship dates back 34 years to the Queensland Police Academy but the pair’s relationship has become strained in recent months over the coach’s fight to extend his career at the Broncos.

Bennett still has the support of the dressingroom but it will not be enough to save him long term as Broncos hierarchy push forward with their succession plan.

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As part of the selection process for Brisbane’s next coach, a key criteria is that Bennett’s successor must have a premiership on his resume. ­

Maguire ticks that box.

Apart from Maguire, the Broncos are also assessing other candidates.

Another option could be Warriors coach Steve Kearney, who is off-contract at season’s end and was formerly an assistant to Bennett at the Broncos.

The Broncos have previously appointed rookie coaches in Ivan Henjak and Anthony Griffin, but both appointments were a disaster.

Michael Maguire was named as New Zealand head coach earlier this year. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Yesterday, Bennett effectively challenged the board to back him or sack him. He was resigned to the fact he would not be at Red Hill next season.

“I don’t have any other control in that (his coaching future at the Broncos),’’ Bennett said.

“Quite realistically I may not be here, that’s exactly it.

“It’s not my decision. You ask me a lot of questions here that other people should be answering and that disappoints me enormously.

“The last time I left (Brisbane in 2009), I left for similar reasons. But I made the decision to leave so this drama wouldn’t happen.

“This time I haven’t made the decision to leave so it’s up to the board and the CEO to make their decisions.

“I’m not making it for them this time. I made it easy for them last time. I’m not doing it this time.”

Should Bennett walk away at season’s end, it opens the door for him to join the Dragons.

As revealed by The Courier-Mail on Tuesday, Dragons bosses are eyeing off a Bennett return to replace Paul McGregor, who is under pressure to retain his job next season.