Wayne Bennett says the uncertainty around Brisbane’s future could cost the Broncos

WAYNE Bennett has called for Brisbane to tell him if he has a future at the club or not, warning speculation over his role could derail the club’s premiership chances.

Wayne bennett. The Brisbane Bronocos training at Red Hill. Pic Peter Wallis

WAYNE Bennett has appealed for Brisbane bosses to tell him whether he has a future at the Broncos, warning the ongoing uncertainty is threatening to derail the club’s premiership hopes.

On the eve of Brisbane’s clash with Canberra at Suncorp Stadium, Bennett wants answers, admitting persistent speculation about his coaching future is messing with his players’ heads.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Bennett, whose contract expires at the end of 2019, fronted a Broncos board meeting on Wednesday.

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It is understood Broncos CEO Paul White has tabled to the board a proposal _ compiled by Bennett _ after Storm rival Craig Bellamy rejected Brisbane’s approach a fortnight ago to stay loyal to Melbourne.

The Broncos had identified Bellamy as the man to succeed Bennett in 2020, but with that succession plan in tatters, the 68-year-old super coach has no idea if he will be at Red Hill beyond next year.

Bennett doesn’t know if he’ll coach beyond next season. Peter Wallis

White recently declared the Broncos were in “no rush” to sort out their coaching situation, but with Brisbane clinging to eighth spot, Bennett called for an immediate resolution to safeguard their season.

Asked if he had an update on his future from the board entering the Raiders clash, Bennett said: “No I haven’t. I hope I get an answer soon.

“We need to get some clarity so we can do our jobs properly.

“The major reason (Bennett wants an answer) is that we don’t want to have any distractions going into the back end of the season.

“We have had a season of distractions.

“It’s been remarkable what these players have done under the circumstances, but it’s not who the Broncos are and it’s not what I want them to be.”

Will Bennett stick with Brisbane. AAP Image/Dan Peled.

Brisbane’s first major ruction occurred on the eve on the NRL season when the club came under siege for throwing a lifeline to controversial prop Matt Lodge.

Just as the dust settled on the Lodge saga, the Broncos were rocked by the bombshell revelation last month that White had held secret talks with Bellamy without Bennett’s knowledge.

Bennett has remained tight-lipped on the contents of his proposal, but he told Broncos board members eight weeks ago he is keen to coach the club beyond his 70th birthday in 2020.

“You need to talk to the chairman and CEO about all that stuff,” Bennett said when asked about his proposal. “It’s out of my hands now.”

Brisbane have missed the playoffs just four times in their glittering 30-year history. Four competition points ahead of ninth-placed Canberra, Brisbane can move further clear of the Raiders with victory tonight at Suncorp.

The last time Bennett missed the finals with Brisbane was 1991. AAP Image/Dan Peled.

White last week told The Courier-Mail he is working closely with Bennett in planning for the club’s future.

“Wayne has shared some thoughts with me about what the future might look like from 2020 onwards,” he said.

“We have a coach for 2019 and we are a long way from that period. We are in no rush to resolve the coaching issue for 2020.

“It’s now up to myself, Wayne and the board to consider our options. We will do it in a measured and considered way.

“Wayne and I have had conversations and will continue to do so. I won’t go into specifics of the proposal but there’s a range of options. Wayne wants to be a part of that (planning process) and I want him to be a part of it.”

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