Bulldogs chasing Bennett

parragirl · Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 2:51 pm Post subject: Bulldogs chasing Bennett

Wanted man ... the Bulldogs are keen to entice outgoing Broncos coach Wayne Bennett to Belmore.

By Ray Chesterton and Dean Ritchie
February 19, 2008 12:00am

THE Bulldogs are expected to open discussions with Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett within the next three days in a move which could signal the end of Steve Folkes' 11-year reign at Belmore.

The Daily Telegraph understands at least five directors - all aligned to the rebel ticket which stormed Sunday's football club elections - want Bennett as coach in 2009.

One high-placed source said: "They want him 100 per cent. I definitely know of five directors who want him.

"In fact Wayne will be contacted by the club within the next 72 hours."

Folkes has been told he has seven games of the coming season to prove he warrants a new contract but that guarantee may be rescinded if Bennett agrees to terms.

New director Paul Dunn was yesterday distancing himself from any debate about Bennett shifting to the Bulldogs.

"I don't know. It's not for me to decide on my own," Dunn said. "It's something that needs to be discussed.

"No one has discussed it, no one has talked about it.

"We will have a board meeting and discuss matters going forward. We are all in this together."

There is, however, a fear at Belmore that Bennett may sign with North Queensland.

St George Illawarra may also chase the Queenslander if Nathan Brown is sacked but the Dragons do have money concerns, unlike the Bulldogs.

It is known Bennett has been a long-time admirer of the Bulldogs' strong on-field culture.

"If Wayne Bennett is available, the Bulldogs will be chasing him," a club insider said.

Even as the new Bulldogs board is planning reconciliation meetings next month to sort out their rancour, the potential upheaval of signing the current Broncos coach is hovering.

He is understood to be much more interested in moving to Sydney than Townsville because his daughter, Beth, and son-in-law Ben Ikin, who works for Channel 9, have settled on Sydney's northside.

Ikin is playing rugby union this season for the Manly Marlins and Bennett, for all his taciturn manner, often stubbornness and lack of communication in public, dotes on his four grandchildren.

Coaching in Townsville would double his commuting time to see his extended family in Sydney.

Unless his own family moved from Brisbane to Townsville he would also be further isolated.

Yesterday, Bennett fell back on a "round up the usual quotes" reply when asked about the Bulldogs post.

"No comment," he said.

Bulldogs director Ray Dib said he knew nothing of any move to approach Bennett.

"We don't even have our first official board meeting until next month," he said.

If Bennett rejects the Cowboys' anticipated offer, Graham Murray's assistant Ian Millward would be favourite for the Townsville position.

Meanwhile, the new Bulldogs board took initial steps towards club reconciliation yesterday, addressing players and staff for the first time at Belmore and drawing a "line in the sand to move forward".

Led by chairman George Peponis, the club hierarchy spoke with players and staff about moving on from a spiteful election held on Sunday.

Peter Cassilles and new board member Andrew Farrar were the only absentees from the morning meet and greet, while the board's opening meeting last night was postponed.

http://www.news.com.au/dailyteleg.../0,22049,23236104-5006066,00.html

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