Meninga claims Bennett is worth more than reported $1m per season figure

The worst kept secret in the NRL looks will likely be confirmed ahead of this weekend’s Magic Round, with the South Sydney Rabbitohs set to announce the signing of Wayne Bennett as the club’s new head coach.

Bennett has had his name linked to the job since the early stages of the season when it became apparent that former coach Jason Demetriou was running on borrowed time.

When the news was confirmed of Demetriou’s departure three weeks ago, Bennett was seen as the runaway favourite, as both club and coach reportedly engaged in conversations.

News broke on Wednesday morning that Bennett had agreed to return on a deal worth $3 million over the next three years but the current Dolphins coach has denied to have signed anything as yet.

NRL icon and current Australian Kangaroos coach, Mal Meninga, admitted that the reported figure could be an underpay for someone who many consider as the greatest coach in the game’s history.

“He’s probably worth more,” Meninga said on SEN 1170 The Throwdown.

“I would suspect that Wayne would not only have the million dollars to coach but there would be some other incentives built into that, for sure, other materials incentives one would suggest for sure.

“I think he’s worth more than that, to be honest with you, he’s the grand master.

“Craig (Bellamy) is a fantastic coach, (he’ll) go down (as one of) the best coaches that ever coached a game, but Wayne is the master, the grand puppeteer.”

Bennett has spearheaded the Dolphins’ surprising start to life in the NRL and reportedly is eyeing off coaching the 18th NRL franchise when the league expands in the coming years.

“The thing about Wayne is, he’s setting himself up to (say), ‘Listen I can start clubs up now’,” Meninga added.

“(He’s) done the Broncos and the Dolphins now hasn’t he, so (can say), ‘I can come along and help your club, I can get it to a situation where it’s a sustainable and successful club’, like he’s doing with the Dolphins.

“The Dolphins can only improve, they can’t get any worse, they’re on the trajectory up.

“Any new team that comes into the competition, there’s another million for Wayne.

“Wayne could keep on going until he’s 80, based on the vision of the game and why wouldn’t he if he’s still got all his faculties and his healthy, why not keep going?”

Bennett is expected to be announced as the coach of the Rabbitohs in the coming days.