Brisbane are set to play tough with supercoach Wayne Bennett, if he wants to head to the Wests Tigers as rumours continue to mount regarding a head coaching merry-go-round.
Tigers head coach Ivan Cleary has reportedly already signed a deal with the Panthers from 2021, and with the Tigers knowing Cleary won't be their coach for the future, they've turned their attentions to luring Bennett as soon as possible.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the Tigers are only willing to let Cleary go if they can bring in a ready-made replacement, and Bennett certainly fits the bill, despite being contracted to the Broncos for the 2019 season.
Bennett was recently told next season would be his last at Red Hill, after his push for a one-year extension into 2020 fell on deaf ears.
The 69-year-old has made it clear he wants to coach beyond 2019, and believes he still has what it takes to win an eighth NRL premiership.
If the move does go ahead, Cleary would join his son Nathan at the foot of the mountains, Bennett would take over at the Tigers, although the Broncos would be without a definite replacement, with a couple of names rumoured to be in for the top job.
Kevin Walters, Anthony Seibold and Michael Mcguire all loom as viable options, although as it stands the Broncos believe they'll have no problems with Bennett at the helm in 2019.