The stalemate looks set to continue at Brisbane after chief executive Paul White refused to clarify the NRL club's long-term coaching plan and whether it involves Wayne Bennett beyond 2019.
White fronted media at Red Hill on Friday, the morning after the side's crucial 38-18 defeat of South Sydney, in an attempt to quell speculation around the coaching job.
In a tedious 35-minute back and forth with journalists White refused to detail the club's long-term intentions.
But he did say the master coach wouldn't be sacked ahead of next season and that reports former South Sydney coach Michael Maguire had been offered a three-year deal were false.
The 68-year-old Bennett, who has been at the helm for all six of Brisbane's premierships, has indicated he wants to remain an NRL head coach but won't walk away before his contract expires at the end of 2019.
White's assurance on Friday that he won't be sacked means all signs lead to the master coach remaining at Red Hill next season.
But what happens beyond that remains a mystery, with White refusing to confirm reports Bennett had been offered a non-coaching role at the club from 2020.
The chief executive and long-time friend of Bennett admitted the pair's relationship had strained this season, but he is prepared to cop the flak as he takes a patient approach.
"From just a common sense point of view ... I know in a perfect world Wayne would like an answer sooner rather than later, but we don't work in the perfect world," White said.
"From time to time this business is tough ... you've got to give yourself time and space to make decisions even though there's urgency being generated in the public domain.
"Time's on our side here; we've got 14 months until we have to make a decision.
"We're not going to be rushed into a decision."
White conceded the club had opened a can of worms by chasing Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy earlier this year.
But he said the fact the in-demand "marquee" coach was off-contract this season meant it would've been remiss not to investigate the option.
"Yes we went after one coach; we haven't gone back into the market since," he said.
White's address came just hours after Rabbitohs coach Anthony Seibold reached breaking point regarding rumours of his own move to the Broncos.
"It's been a circus this week in regards to speculation around my coaching career and individually I'm really disappointed," he said after his side's loss to the Broncos.
"Some of the things being said in the media are just not true ... I'm contracted to the Rabbitohs for the next 15 months."
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