Once again Wayne Bennett finds himself in the box seat at Brisbane with the veteran coach set to deliver the NRL club his coaching succession plan after Craig Bellamy's snub.
Just weeks after appearing on the outer at the Broncos for the first time in his 25th season at the helm, Bennett now looks set to dictate terms when he fronts Brisbane's next board meeting on June 27 and details his future plans.
Bennett appears to hold the advantage after NRL glamour club the Broncos failed to get their man, with Melbourne on Sunday confirming Bellamy would remain at the club until 2021.
The Storm claimed victory in their tug of war with Brisbane for Bellamy's services in a deal believed to be worth $4 million over three seasons.
It is also a shot in the arm for Bennett.
Off contract at the end of 2019, seven-time premiership-winning coach Bennett has made no secret of his desire to keep coaching despite turning 69 next year.
"Wayne's got views on what that succession plan might look like," Broncos director Darren Lockyer told the Nine Network.
"He's going to present that at the next board meeting. In light of Craig staying in Melbourne, and it was always going to be hard to get him to leave, moving forward there is still a bit of time up our sleeve to decide what we are doing beyond 2019."
Bennett claimed he came up with the idea for Brisbane to approach Bellamy even though he wants to continue holding the Broncos reins.
He also revealed two rival clubs had already approached him but dismissed speculation linking him to Parramatta.
While the Broncos were quietly confident they would get their man, former Brisbane captain and assistant coach Kevin Walters wasn't surprised by Bellamy staying in Melbourne.
"I thought Craig was always going to stay to be honest," he told Triple M radio.
"That's his club, that's where he belongs. Think Craig Bellamy and you think of the Melbourne Storm.
"The Broncos will be a bit disappointed missing out on Bellamy but the coach they have got is pretty handy too.
"It's not like they have got a bum. Wayne is a very astute coach and doing a great job for the Broncos."
Bennett had hinted at Broncos assistant Jason Demetriou and current Queensland State of Origin mentor Walters taking over Brisbane's reins from him in future after Cowboys coach Paul Green knocked back Broncos overtures.
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