V’landys in talks with Bennett over PNG Chiefs role amid NRL’s $600m expansion gamble
NRL boss Peter V’landys wants Souths coach Wayne Bennett to be involved with the Papua New Guinea Chiefs’ expansion side and potentially as their inaugural coach.
The Daily Telegraph reported V’landys wants Bennett involved with building the NRL’s 19th team when they come into the game for their first season in 2028.
Bennett is currently contracted to South Sydney, but his deal expires at the end of the 2027 season, paving the way for a switch to the Chiefs in 2028.
Bennett took the reins of the Dolphins ahead of their inaugural season in 2023, before returning to Souths in 2025 on a three-year deal.
The master coach will be 78 years old by the time his Rabbitohs deal comes to an end and while Souths are keen to keep him long-term as a coach or Head of Football, the NRL want him involved with the new Papua New Guinea team.
V’landys wants Bennett to be a part of building the $600 million Pacific franchise.
The two parties are reportedly in talks, but while V’landys would prefer Bennett as coach, the Souths boss is reportedly more interested in a consultancy role.
“Yes, we want Wayne Bennett involved,” V’landys told The Daily Telegraph.
“If Wayne is available, he’ll be the first bloke I call.
“You can ask Wayne if he wants to coach, but we will use him in whatever capacity would be suitable to him.”
The Papua New Guinea NRL team has been plagued by doubters suggesting it will be a hard sell to bring players and coaches to a team from a country with the second worst crime rate in the world.
However, V’landys is adamant that PNG will be a massive success based on his experience as a sports administrator and pointed to the doubters of the Dolphins as a reason to be optimistic.
“The amount of attacks I got about the Dolphins being put in, most people would’ve said ‘I don’t need this trouble’ and not gone ahead with it, but look how successful the Dolphins have been,” V’landys said.
“In my view, PNG will be more successful.
“As a sports administrator for a long time, I can categorically say with confidence that Papua New Guinea will blow everyone out of the water.”
V’landys is not only confident of financial success, but believes Papua New Guinea will provide a new resource for bringing athletes into the game due to the countries’ love of rugby league.
“There are 18 million people there that are potential customers and potential players and the beauty of PNG is that it’s a one-nation sport,” V’landys said.