Bondi Benny
By James Hooper
September 07, 2006 12:00
THE Sydney Roosters have secretly targeted Brisbane's five-time premier coach Wayne Bennett as the man to take over from sacked coach Ricky Stuart.
When The Daily Telegraph last night contacted Roosters supremo Nick Politis overseas about the development, the phone call was mysteriously cut the moment Bennett's name was mentioned.
Five minutes later the club's marketing and media general manager Richard Fisk rang on behalf of Politis to question why Bennett's name was being linked to the club.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal the Broncos coach is the man the Roosters want to resurrect the ailing Bondi Junction club in their historic 100th season.
Bennett is contracted to the Broncos until the end of 2009 but the Roosters are understood to have a three-year, $2.4 million deal waiting for him, starting next season.
Contacted about the secret approach last night, Bennett said: "Earlier this year I was supposed to be going to Canberra. Right now it's pure speculation. I'm not going to comment on speculation.
"I've got a contract until 2009. But if I ever think it's time to go, I can go.
"And if Bruno Cullen ever thinks it's time I go, he can cut me."
Pressed on the issue of Bennett quitting the Broncos to join the 2002 premiers, Roosters chief executive Brian Canavan said: "At this time the club cannot confirm or deny any information or the names of any applicants for the coaching job."
For Bennett to join the Roosters, the former Kangaroos and Queensland Origin coach would need to terminate his 19-year reign at the helm of the Broncos, where he has won five premierships.
Having previously operated on handshake deals with the Broncos, Bennett inked a four-year deal until the end of 2009 last season.
Politis and Canavan last week formed a sub-committee to appoint a new coach.
The Daily Telegraph understands Bennett's name has only been mentioned inside the Sydney Roosters' inner circle as the man the club wants as coach next season.
Ironically, if Bennett does take the role he will replace the coach with whom he was involved in a heated public slanging match last January.
Bennett and sacked coach Ricky Stuart traded barbs after the Broncos mentor resigned as Kangaroos coach and Stuart replaced him.
St Helens coach Daniel Anderson was named publicly as the favourite for the Roosters job when Stuart was sacked last week, with Chris Anderson and Adrian Lam also linked to the job.
Matt Elliott, the man who took Canberra from potential wooden spooners to NRL finalists, has endorsed former St George fullback Mick Potter as a suitable coach for the Roosters.