England approach Wayne Bennett to replace Steve McNamara as coach

The 66-year-old Brisbane Broncos boss is the most successful coach in Australian rugby league history

Wayne Bennett, the most successful coach in Australian rugby league history, watches Brisbane Broncos training (Getty)

Wayne Bennett has confirmed an approach from the Rugby Football League over the England coaching vacancy.

The 66-year-old Brisbane Broncos boss, who is the most successful coach in Australian rugby league history with seven Grand Final wins, is thought to have been earmarked to take over from Steve McNamara, whose contract ran out at the end of last year.

Nigel Wood, the Rugby Football League chief executive, declined to comment on the England vacancy but said an announcement was due this month.

Bennett was keen to regain the Australia role that was recently given to Mal Meninga and is set to go up against his rival later this year when England host the 2016 Four Nations Series.

“About five years ago, they first arrived at my doorstep and it was always about finding the right timing,” Bennett told the Brisbane Courier Mail. “We haven’t finalised the role. I’ve been offered some opportunities.”

Bennett, who won the Grand Final six times with Brisbane and once with St George Illawarra Dragons, has had two stints as Australia coach, in 1998 and 2004-05.

He will bring his Broncos team to England this month for their World Club Series game with Wigan on 20 February when the England position is likely to be finalised.

“It may be before then, if someone picks up the phone in the next week,” Bennett added. “I have to find out what I want to do and how they see me involved. I’ve told the Broncos what I’m doing and the people who matter are across it – they are totally supportive of it, as they were of me when I applied for the Australian coaching job.”