WAYNE Bennett has opened the door for Ben Te’o to resurrect his career at the Broncos as the Cowboys yesterday ruled out signing the former Queensland Origin enforcer.

Bennett believes the Broncos can benefit from the same NRL salary-cap rules that last week enabled South Sydney to re-sign Sam Burgess after his turbulent stint in English rugby.

It was feared the NRL would move to block Te’o’s mooted return from Irish rugby if a club attempted to sign him to a basic, second-tier contract.

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But The Courier-Mail understands Te’o will be back in Brisbane next season if the Broncos are prepared to pay at least $350,000 a season for the premiership-winning Maroons hitman.

That was the figure of Te’o’s most recent deal at Souths in 2014 and the NRL’s salary-cap auditor will formally approve any fresh contract offer that matches or exceeds that amount.

Exactly 12 months ago, the Broncos cleared salary-cap space to fund the off-season purchase of Adam Blair and Bennett says Brisbane could act just as quickly to snare Te’o.

“You can always make space in the salary cap if you want to,” Bennett said.

“We made the space last year to bring Darius Boyd and Adam to the Broncos, it cost someone else their careers but we have the ability to do that.

“The salary-cap environment must be right for the NRL because Souths just brought Sam Burgess back.

“If he’s getting $500,000 (annually from the Rabbitohs), then the salary cap rules must be all right.

“At the moment, I don’t know what Ben Te’o is keen to do. He is out there doing his thing in rugby and I’m doing my best for the Broncos.

“If our paths happen to meet down the track, so be it. He’d be good for any roster, but right now he’s overseas playing rugby.”

Te’o would bring a more intimidating edge to the Broncos pack. The 28-year-old played 75 games for Brisbane between 2009-12 before shifting to Souths, where he played a key role in the club’s premiership charge.

media_camera Te’o won a premiership with the Rabbitohs in 2014.

Currently playing for Leinster in Ireland, Te’o would not be able to resume his NRL career until next April.

The Cowboys had expressed interest in the former Origin back-rower but are no longer in the hunt — putting the Broncos in the box seat to attract Te’o.

“Just about every club would be keen on Ben Te’o but it would depend on his price tag,” Cowboys football manager Peter Parr said.

“I had a discussion with Ben’s manager about him and where he was at, but I was told he was under contract to rugby union and it didn’t go anywhere.

“We’ve moved on now.”

An NRL spokesman said Te’o would be welcomed back to the code if the Broncos, or any other potential suitor, tabled a deal that was palatable to the governing body.

“A club would put forward a contract to sign him and our salary-cap auditors would make an assessment on whether it reflects his standing,” he said.

“If, for instance, he was undervalued when he left Souths, he would have to be upgraded in any new contract.”