Wayne Bennett has declared he could coach both the Rabbitohs and Maroons.

The seven-time premiership mentor has been linked to the top job at Queensland despite Kevin Walters still having a year to run on his contract.

Despite saying he would return to the Maroons next year, Walters has been linked to the Titans role and has previously expressed his desire to become an NRL coach.

Pressure is mounting on Walters, with just two Origin series wins to his name and losing the last two.

Bennett, a three-time Maroons coach, said returning to the role is something he would consider.

"None of that was my doing - the Queensland chairman made a statement, he's never spoken to me," Bennett said.

"No one has ever spoken to me about that. To his credit, Bruce rang me and said 'look, I said this, I didn't mean to say it'. I've got no doubt about that.

"Kevin (is on contract) for next year, it just didn't make sense.

"My point of view is it had nothing to do with me and if someone came knocking on my door at a later stage in my life, I'd make a decision."

Bennett said with the necessary support an NRL coach could handle the Origin duties too.

"I did it seven times during my coaching career so if I had to do (coach an NRL club and Origin) again, and I wanted to do it again, and everyone was onside, it's doable," Bennett said.

"The challenge they've got with their rule is who's available.

"If Kevin does get an opportunity somewhere else and can't coach Origin again, in his first year of (NRL) coaching, (Queensland) wouldn't be his priority.

"Then you can't pick NRL coaches, you can only pick coaches who are unemployed. There aren't many that are unemployed that are Queenslanders. It's a difficult one."

The 69-year old's contract as the England test coach ends at the end of the year with discussions up in the air.

"My contract is up at the end of this year," Bennett said.

"So I've got to renegotiate if I want to be there and they want me."

8 COMMENTS

  2. Just retire Bennett, unbelievable that the old fart wants to coach England, Qld and Souths. They will all suffer if he coaches the lot. The old bloke needs to put all his heart into one team.

  6. He seems set on this maroons coaching gig, but i think he should just stick to coaching Souths. Juggling 2 roles could end badly not just for him, but the teams that he is coaching

  8. I like the new version of Woody, even if it’s a new guy chipping in, I went off ZT comments while woodchoock was on , just could not handle the constant crap that he wrote, jiorl800 said , good to see normal banter again and that is what it should be, no putting crap on anybodys team, there are some Souths guys on this site that go off a little bit too much, but that’s just a hangover from old Woodys comments and that dope Russ, they start everything, so hopefully all can get back to constructve comments, i think jiorl800 said that previous.

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