Wayne Bennett set to extend contract as Brisbane Broncos coach

THE Brisbane Broncos have started talks to hand super coach Wayne Bennett a two-year contract extension.

Brisbane Broncos coach Wayne Bennett during the NRL Grand Final press conference at Darling Harbour in Sydney. Picture. Phil Hillyard

THE Brisbane Broncos have started talks to hand Wayne Bennett a two-year contract extension.

The seven-time premiership coach would turn 69 before the start of the 2019 season, which would be his 26th year as Broncos coach and 35th as a top-tier coach in Australia.

Broncos chairman Dennis Watt said that Bennett was getting “better and better’’ as a coach, and that his return to Red Hill had again made the 2015 runners-up a destination club.

Wayne Bennett is set to extend his coaching career.

As reported in The Courier-Mail on February 16, Bennett wants to extend his career as Broncos coach beyond his current contract, which ends in October next year.

“The board is keen to extend (the contract of) Wayne until the end of the 2019 season,’’ Watt said.

“His impact upon the entire club since his return has been remarkable, with last year’s on-field success translating into a record year for (finances) of the club.

“Membership for 2016 is on track to soar above 30,000 for the first time.

“The Broncos are again a club where players want to be coached by the best coach in the business, so that they have the best chance to play finals and representative football.

“He is without doubt one of the best leaders and coaches in international sport.’’

Wayne Bennett will keep coaching.

Bennett told players, club employees and sponsors at their season launch on Friday that he “loves being the coach” of the Broncos and sees the revival of the team as a reflection of the standards the original owners wanted in the late 1980s.

When Bennett signed with Brisbane for 2015-17, there was talk about a succession plan for one of his assistants, Kevin Walters or Stephen Kearney, for 2018.

But the coaching warhorse has set his own agenda with the distinct help of a winning side.

“Wayne has quickly reminded the club and everyone in it that there is a high and unrelenting price to be paid for the enduring success,’’ Watt said.

“Opportunities are to be earned and paid for by hard work and sacrifice.

“The Broncos have an excellent and balanced roster and Wayne is the man to keep developing these young men so they reach their potential.

“In our view he simply gets better and better.’’