Bennett set for Souths with four NRL clubs to get new coaches

Both Seibold and Bennett are contracted to Souths and Brisbane respectively for 2019, but given they have committed elsewhere, an immediate swap is likely.

Bennett had been in the mix to take over at the Tigers, who are expected to release Ivan Cleary to Penrith. The Panthers have signed Cleary from 2021-23, making his time at the joint-venture outfit untenable. Pending Cleary’s departure, the Tigers have struck an in-principle deal with Maguire, giving the premiership-winning mentor a return to the NRL.

Maguire and Bennett are currently in England, as the coaches of New Zealand and England respectively ahead of this Saturday’s Test match.

It continues a frenzy of coach swapping that began when Des Hasler returned to Manly on a three-year deal, despite Trent Barrett still remaining on the Sea Eagles’ books.

The loss of Seibold, who won the Dally M Coach of the Year as a rookie, can't be viewed as anything but a blow for Souths but getting Bennett in exchange would be quite the fall-back option.

Seibold is a Queenslander and has a long-standing relationship with Broncos chief executive Paul White and that would have played a significant role in his mooted return to the Sunshine State.

He will get a club with all the resources in the world and an excellent, youthful list that looks primed to make a premiership tilt over coming seasons.

It also means the first domino in The Great Coach Swap of 2018 has now fallen, setting in place a chain of events that is set to see Bennett at Redfern, Maguire at the Wests Tigers and Ivan Cleary at Penrith in time for the 2019 season.

With Phil Lutton