Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett’s coaching future is clouded in uncertainty after the super coach was approached by the ARL Commission to sound out his interest in building the NRL’s newest franchise.
According to Code Sports, the ARL Commission wants Bennett to play a prominent role in the set-up of the NRL’s 19th team, PNG, which will enter the competition in 2028.
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Bennett was the foundation coach of the Broncos in 1998 and the Dolphins in 2023 and with a wealth of experience it is no surprise a poaching bid is on the cards.
Bennett confirmed the ARL Commission’s approach to him on PNG but played down any speculation about his future beyond 2027.
“Yes, we’ve talked about it (the PNG team),” Bennett said on Tuesday.
“We’ll just see where I am in a couple of years.
“I will see where I’m at and where PNG is at.
“I’ve got to sort myself out.
“I have great respect for Peter V’landys and I’ll help the game out if I can, but I’m not going to do anything right now.
“I’m still contracted for a few years here at Souths, so I’ve got to do my time here and we’ll see what happens.”
Bennett is contracted to South Sydney until the end of 2027 and it is understood the 75-year-old will hold talks with the Bunnies at the end of the season in regards to his future plans.
But ARLC boss Peter V’landys hopes the seven-time premiership-winning coach can be part of the PNG project.
“Wayne Bennett is a genius. He is one of the greatest minds we have in rugby league,” V’landys said.
“He has always been the best of the best in these sort of areas (with expansion teams).
“He’s proven that with the Broncos and the Dolphins. He’s an extraordinary individual to say the least and he may not necessarily be the coach, but we hope he has some major involvement with PNG.
“We respect that Wayne is giving his best right now to the South Sydney Rabbitohs, but that’s not to say in the future, he can’t have some major role with a PNG team.”
