WAYNE Bennett’s struggles to ink a new deal with the Broncos could see him jump ship to the Panthers in time for next season.

After Anthony Griffin was sacked by the Panthers effective immediately, the Penrith coaching gig has been linked to a number of notable coaches.

However none have the standing in the game of Bennett, according to Michael Ennis.

“I don’t think that Wayne Bennett is out of the picture,” Ennis told Big Lauge Wrap.

Round 20

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“It makes sense. Wayne Bennett and I have a great relationship, but he’s a stubborn old bastard.

“If he gets wind that the Broncos aren’t going to accept his offer of extension to go on past 2019, he won’t stay there for 12 months and just sit on his hands.

“Therefore that opens the door for someone like Cameron Ciraldo, to be man managed by two of the best coaches that have ever coached our game in Phil Gould and Wayne Bennett.

“Wayne Bennett has shown before that when he picks up a roster capable of winning a competition like he did at the Dragons, he gets it done.

“Wayne is not going there for a five year plan.

Anthony Griffin was sacked on the eve of the finals/ Source: AAP

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“Wayne would go there on a missile like mission and win a premiership, with what they’ve got and then leave the reins for a Cameron Ciraldo to take in all that knowledge. It makes sense to me.”

Michael Maguire and Trent Barrett have been other names tossed up to replace Griffin along with Nathan Cleary, but Ennis thinks Bennett is a very good chance to coach the Panthers from Round 1 next season.

“It has been rumoured that John Cartwright and Trent Barrett were going to head back west, but Phil Gould was adamant that wasn’t going to be the case,” Ennis said.

“I think Wayne Bennett might be the one.

“I get the feeling that Bennett won’t be happy to sit on his hands and he has spoken of his desire to continue coaching beyond next season, when his deal expires with the Broncos.

“If he gets wind that the Broncos won’t extend his deal beyond 2019, then that leaves the window open for Wayne to call his own shots.

“Wayne has been in this game a long time and we have seen him make those big calls.”

The Panthers have one of the best rosters in the competition and Bennett would be enticed by the prospect of showing the Broncos what they are missing, by winning a competition with Penrith.

“Can you imaging the combination of Bennett and Gould, given the window the Panthers have got to win a premiership, so it is not as silly as it seems,” Ennis said.