Brisbane boss says Broncos remain most coveted job

Brisbane chair Karl Morris insists the chief executive’s role at the club remains one of the game’s most coveted as Dave Donaghy and Ben Ikin are linked to the job.

Melbourne Storm CEO Dave Donaghy has been linked to the Broncos. Picture: Michael Klein

Brisbane chair Karl Morris insists the chief executive’s role at the game’s flagship club hasn’t lost any of its lustre as the Broncos edge towards undertaking their search for a successor to the departing Paul White.

White’s exit has already been foreshadowed after a decade at the Broncos, although he has indicated he is willing to stay beyond the end of the season if the club needs him to help transition to a new chief executive.

At the same time, White has been earmarked by some for a position at Rugby League Central, where he could act as a conduit between the clubs and head office.

It is understood club and NRL powerbrokers see White as someone capable of mentoring existing chief executives and smoothing the lines of communication between the clubs and head office.

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That decision will rest in the hands of acting chief executive Andrew Abdo should he be appointed to the role on a permanent basis, as is expected to occur.

Meanwhile, White is counting down his final days at the Broncos during a period of unprecedented tumult, brought on by five successive defeats that have heaped pressure on the club and coach Anthony Seibold.

Against that backdrop, the club is expected to begin in coming weeks an exhaustive search for a new chief executive who can take the club forward and help revive their glory days.

Morris declined to discuss the club’s plans for replacing White – or the timeline – other than to say he was confident that the club’s current malaise would have no impact on the quality of any candidates.

“It is a coveted position,” Morris said.

“Some people have already approached me and asked when this will happen. I said to them, it will happen in due course.”

Several prominent rugby league figures have already been linked to the position including Melbourne chief executive Dave Donaghy, and former Broncos player turned commentator expert Ben Ikin — also a Queensland Rugby League director.

There is a school of thought that the club would be best served by bringing in someone who can get their football department back on track and restore the club’s DNA — Ikin spent five years at the Broncos and played 55 games, including the 2000 grand final.

At the same time, Donaghy has done a great job in Melbourne and respected among his fellow chief executives as well as Rugby League Central. No matter which way the club opts to go, White’s replacement faces an immense challenge to lift the Broncos out of their current doldrums.

The club has been front page news in Queensland for the past month, owing largely to their performances and the resultant pressure that has been placed on Seibold and the playing staff.

Seibold has at least three years remaining on his existing deal and board member Darren Lockyer indicated earlier this week that were no performance-related clauses in the contract, meaning the Broncos would face a hefty payout if they decided to cut their losses with their coach.

That seems unlikely given the club’s very public show of support for Seibold, Morris among those to back his appointment while at the same time urging the coach to look at bumping up his support staff.

Two former Brisbane assistants — Kevin Walters and Steve Kearney — have been mooted as potential additions to the coaching staff, although bringing on board either man would come with its challenges.