Wayne Bennett future: Ex-Broncos CEO Shane Edwards keen to reunite with supercoach at Brisbane Firehawks

‘If he was to be available, he would be incredible.’ Sounds like one of the NRL expansion hopefuls have pinpointed their main man if their bid is successful.

Firehawks NRL board of Directors - Shane Edwards Picture Supplied

Wayne Bennett has declared he is open to all offers as new Firehawks board member Shane Edwards revealed his interest in reuniting with the supercoach to take on the Broncos with the NRL’s proposed 17th team.

The ARL Commission will meet with the three expansion hopefuls next week and the Firehawks are ready to ramp up their $25 million bid with the Bennett-Edwards alliance that delivered three premierships to the Broncos.

Speaking in the lead-up to the Souths-Penrith blockbuster at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night, Bennett said there was no guarantee he would move into another role at Redfern when his contract as head coach expires in November.

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That opens the door for the Firehawks, who are primed to challenge bid rivals the Jets and Dolphins for Bennett’s signature as the expansion triumvirate prepare for formal presentations to the ARL Commission.

News Corp revealed on Sunday that Edwards had been added to the Firehawks board and the former Brisbane chief executive has a successful history with Bennett, celebrating Broncos premiership wins in 1997-98 and 2000.

Shane Edwards and Wayne Bennett in 1999. The pair had great success at the Broncos.

Bennett turns 72 in January and Edwards said he would relish the prospect of reprising their front-office partnership to help the Firehawks clinch an NRL licence and throw down the gauntlet to the Broncos.

“Wayne would stimulate interest as Firehawks coach so I would love to see him considered for the role here,” Edwards said.

“Wayne’s coaching record speaks for itself and it is still speaking for itself.

“If he was to be available, he would be incredible, one from a point of view of attracting players, because I believe he develops players better than anyone in the league.

“Wayne understands NRL players are young men with issues and he mentors them and brings them out the other side.

“I always used to talk about Sir Alex Ferguson (legendary Manchester United manager) with Wayne. Ferguson was 71 or 72 and winning titles so from that point of view, if Wayne had a young up and coming coach with him, that would be sensational.

“I would love to be part of the first derby with the Firehawks with Wayne Bennett as coach taking on the mighty Broncos.

“That (a Brisbane NRL derby) is what the league needs to create growth.”

Bennett, the NRL’s greatest coach, is holding all the aces.

Wayne Bennett will return to Queensland next year after finishing his stint at South Sydney. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

The seven-time premiership coach first fielded an approach from the Brisbane Jets in February.

The Rabbitohs are keen for Bennett to remain in an active role when he settles full-time in Brisbane before Christmas, but the veteran mentor has yet to accept any position as Souths’ Queensland-based figureheads.

Firehawks bid chief Shane Richardson held informal chats with Bennett in May, but Edwards is ready to up the ante as the ARL Commission prepares to get serious about whether to expand the NRL with a second Brisbane team.

With Bennett in serious contention for an eighth premiership this season, the former Broncos coach says he is fully focused on Souths’ title charge, but is open to a formal Firehawks approach.

“I’m happy to be the great fence-sitter at the moment. I’m open to all offers,” Bennett said ahead of the Souths-Panthers showdown.

“Until there is a definite team coming in, I won’t commit to anything.

Wayne Bennett won’t make a decision on his future until after the season.

“There’s a few opportunities for me to do stuff next season but I won’t make a final decision until I finish at South Sydney and then I’ll see what’s on the table for me.

“There is no rush for me. The one certainty is I’m coming back to Brisbane.

“I don’t know if I will stay with Souths. I don’t know what I want to do. Right now, I’m focused on finishing the season with South Sydney.

“I have an important job right here, right now. I want to give my all for Souths and then I will worry about my next move.”

FIREHAWKS SNARE EX-BRONCOS BOSS

The Firehawks have turned up the heat in the NRL’s expansion battle by securing the high-powered chief executive who helped Wayne Bennett turn the Broncos into a premiership powerhouse.

In a major coup for the prospective NRL franchise, News Corp can reveal the Firehawks have added former Broncos CEO Shane Edwards to their board as they ramp-up plans to become Brisbane’s second team in 2023 or 2024.

The highly-respected Edwards will be joined on the Firehawks board by Zac Sarra, the brother of former ARL Commissioner Chris Sarra and one of Queensland’s longest-serving magistrates.

The ARL Commission is scheduled to hold formal meetings with bid teams the Firehawks, Jets and Dolphins over the next fortnight and the Brisbane Tigers-backed organisation is flexing its muscle with the Edwards-Sarra alliance.

Former Broncos boss Shane Edwards (second from left) and Zac Sarra (second from right) have been added to the Brisbane Firehawks board.

The 62-year-old Edwards has an intimate understanding of the Broncos’ operations. He enjoyed a seven-year reign as Brisbane CEO from 1995-2002, driving a formidable front-office as Bennett’s Broncos charged to three of their six premierships during Edwards’ golden tenure.

Now Edwards is ready to throw down the gauntlet to the Broncos, declaring the Firehawks can be an immediate NRL juggernaut leveraging the Tigers’ 104-year brand, club infrastructure and $25 million in cash reserves.

“I’m genuinely excited to be on board with the Firehawks as an independent director,” said Edwards, who was the Broncos’ inaugural marketing manager from 1988-95 before he succeeded foundation CEO John Ribot.

“If you look at our assets, cash reserves and no debt, the Brisbane Firehawks could compete from day one with the Broncos.

“I remember the great Jack Gibson (legendary coach) said to the Broncos directors in the early days if you get your front-office right, the rest will look after itself and that‘s what the Firehawks are doing in preparation for an NRL licence.

“Historically, if you look at what‘s happened with expansion (in rugby league), new teams who have failed haven’t had the financial backing to get through the formative years.

“The good thing with the Firehawks bid is that the Tigers organisation is a very financial and viable club — they have been operating for more than 100 years.

“There’s been a lot of clubs that have tried to compete with the Broncos but the Firehawks have the resources to be one of the strongest teams in the NRL.

“If we are successful, it’s the perfect North versus South River rivalry between the Broncos and the Firehawks. It would be a strong derby.

Firehawks bid chief Shane Richardson says the NRL expansion hopefuls are richer than the Brisbane Broncos.

“The Broncos are a great brand but there is certainly room in the market for a second Brisbane team.

“Everyone thinks they have the best bid, but I love the Firehawks‘ creativity — we clearly believe we have the best bid because of our history, our tradition and financial backing.”

Sarra, 63, has served 22 years as a magistrate and will preside over the Firehawks Rising project, aimed at upskilling Queensland NRL stars for life after the big league.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for me,” said Sarra, who played for the Easts Tigers.

“The Firehawks have put together a professional outfit and there is a lot of energy among us.

“We want to give Queensland-based NRL players skills that will enhance their lives and I want to help us develop good community citizens.

“The game teaches you how to handle success, failure and resilience and I‘m excited to be part of a second Brisbane team — the game is ready for expansion.”

Firehawks bid chief Shane Richardson said the addition of Edwards and Sarra would make them difficult to beat in the fight for the NRL’s 17th licence.

“It’s a massive coup for the Firehawks having Shane and Zac,” he said.

“Shane understands the commerce of running an NRL club and did a great job at the Broncos, while Zac is one of the leaders in Indigenous Australia.

“We have a lot more money than the Broncos in the bank.

“If the NRL want a $10 million bank guarantee, we can write a cheque straight away.

“We could hit the go button tomorrow on a second Brisbane team.”

Originally published as Wayne Bennett future: Ex-Broncos CEO Shane Edwards keen to reunite with supercoach at Brisbane Firehawks