Brisbane coach Bennett Sydney bound?

Brisbane master mentor Wayne Bennett says he is showing no signs of slowing down but may have to move to Sydney to extend his NRL coaching career in 2020.

Wayne Bennett

Would a new deal for Wayne Bennett mean moving back to Sydney? (AAP)

The telltale signs a coach should retire are clear, Wayne Bennett says.

And at 68, the Brisbane mentor reckons he's not showing any of them.

But a belated move to Sydney may be on the cards for Bennett if he wants to extend his glittering NRL career when his Broncos contract expires in 2019.

Twelve years after his infamous Roosters backflip, Bennett is again being linked to a NSW move after revealing two clubs had already approached him in the wake of news Brisbane are pursuing Craig Bellamy.

Bennett has already been linked to Canterbury - under rookie coach Dean Pay this year - and Brad Arthur's maligned Parramatta following confirmation the Broncos had talked to Bellamy about a 2020 move.

Questions have been raised over NRL clubs signing Bennett, who would be working into his 70s if offered a new deal.

But Bennett said no alarm bells were ringing for him ahead of his unprecedented 800th NRL game - Thursday night's clash with the Eels.

"If you don't want to get up at 5.30am, don't want to get home at nine at night every day, don't want to enjoy these blokes and be around them and just sit in your office and let everyone do your job - that's when you know you are finished," Bennett said.

"I don't tick any of those boxes right now.

"I am not going to say it won't happen to me but right now I am not.

"I am not in a position that I know everything because I don't but at this point in my life I feel I still have a lot to offer."

And perhaps it will bring Bennett back to Sydney after being convinced by Roosters kingpin Nick Politis to sign with the Tri-colours for 2007, only to renege when the handshake deal broke in the press.

Bennett's son in law - Fox Sports league expert Ben Ikin - even speculated the Brisbane coach could follow Penrith general manager and ex-mentor Phil Gould's lead and take up a director of coaching role at a club.

Brisbane CEO Paul White fronted the media on Wednesday to guarantee Bennett would be coach next year but gave no other assurances despite the seven-time premiership coach's clear desire to stay.

Bellamy has reportedly been offered a four season, $5 million-plus Broncos deal from 2020 but is also mulling over a lucrative Storm offer.


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Source: AAP



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