BRISBANE boss Paul White has confirmed the club approached Craig Bellamy about returning to the Broncos, but has declared Wayne Bennett will be coach of the club in 2019 at this stage.

White also declared he discussed the Bellamy approach with Bennett beforehand, despite a Courier Mail report suggesting he went behind Bennett’s back.

Fox Sports’ chief NRL reporter James Hooper broke the news on Tuesday that the Broncos were chasing Bellamy to coach the club, possibly from next season.

That’s despite the fact long-time coach Bennett still has a year to run on his contract.

Round 20

White says there has been no offer to Bellamy as of yet, but he did sit down with the current Storm coach.

“At the moment there’s no negotiations happening because has got an offer from Melbourne which he’s considering,” White told media on Wednesday.

“I spoke to Wayne this morning, and prior to me having the first conversation with Craig I discussed that with Wayne and the chairman.

“Wayne understands that the club ... we’ve got to have an eye for the future, and 2020 includes our future.

“He’s comfortable that’s part of my job.”

White would not comment on the specifics of what would happen if Bellamy did agree to join the club.

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Bellamy is off-contract at Melbourne, but has been tabled a new three-year offer from the Victorian club which he’s considering.

White would not be drawn into the suggestion Bellamy and Bennett — who were once apprentice and master once upon a time — could work in a dual capacity at the Broncos.

“I’m not here to talk about hypotheticals. I’ve said we’ve had a conversation with Craig, let’s put that on the record,” White said.

“That conversation was predicated by one that I had with Wayne and the chairman.

Where that’s led to is Craig is currently considering an offer from Melbourne.”

At this stage, White says Bennett will be coach of the Broncos in 2019.

“Wayne has got a contract here until 2019. I’ve said to Wayne we needed to approach Craig if he was on the market, but obviously the first conversation I needed to have was with Wayne and the chairman.

“Wayne knows he’s here until 2019. We don’t have a replacement beyond that. We’ll continue to work on all options.

“At the moment Wayne is our coach until the end of 2019, we have had a conversation with Craig Bellamy, but at the moment there are no negotiations taken place.”