Brisbane's hunt for a new coach in 2020 can begin in earnest after the club gave Wayne Bennett the news most had been expecting, with the supercoach not to be retained beyond the next NRL season.
Bennett had hoped to be given an extension on his current deal but Broncos chairman Karl Morris and the rest of the board decided the man that had helped the club win six premierships wasn't the answer beyond next year.
Final fling: Wayne Bennett won’t be at the Broncos in 2020.
The Broncos looked in impressive touch heading into the NRL finals but were blown off the park by the Dragons to bow out. It was widely believed that only a premiership, or another grand final, could convince the board to give the 68-year-old more time at the helm.
Bennett has given every indication that he will remain the coach for next season although any offers between now and the pre-season could see Bennett depart early should he secure a longer-term NRL position.
"Having the decision made now puts an end to speculation and allows a clear focus on getting ready for next season," Bennett said via a club statement.
"I firmly believe in the playing group we have here at the club."
Speculation over Bennett degenerated into a circus towards the latter stages of the NRL season, with both Bennett and the man many believe is being head-hunted as his replacement, Anthony Seibold, lashing out at constant questioning about their futures.
Wanted man: Anthony Seibold could face a big decision if the Broncos make him an offer.
And while Bennett may have some concrete news about his immediate future, Seibold will likely face more questions until he either extends his tenure at South Sydney or decides to move elsewhere after a deeply impressive first season in charge of the Rabbitohs.
Morris said the club would take a 'considered approach' to its recruitment process as it sought to replace Bennett, who along with Ivan Henjak and Anthony Griffin is one of just three coaches at the club since 1988.
"The club will work through a thorough process, led by CEO Paul White, to identify and select a coach for the 2020 season and beyond," Morris said.
White found himself under siege at times during the season as he tries to clarify the position around Bennett and said they would not rush the hunt, although he would be acutely aware it's something they need to get right given the indifferent eras of Henjak and Griffin.
"We are in no rush to find the next coach of this club and we have been clear on that for the past year. We have a process and we will work through that to get the best result," White said.
"Planning has already begun for next season and we are expecting big things from the team."
Brisbane were found wanting in the finals, with their youthful squad missing some key players and badly exposed by a rampant St George-Illawarra outfit. But many believe they team has the best young pack in the game and can challenge for a title in coming seasons.
That's one of the reasons Bennett was desperate to stay, while a number of players re-signed to stay at Red Hill to remain under the tutelage of the master coach.
But the quality of the roster also makes Brisbane a highly appealing destination for coaching contenders, who would inherit a talented list and some of the best facilities in the NRL should they move into the big office at Red Hill.
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