Wayne Bennett’s return to the Broncos confirmed

The Brisbane Broncos have confirmed that Wayne Bennett will take over the club’s coaching reins for 2015 from Anthony Griffin.

CEO Paul White announced the decision at a press conference this afternoon with Griffin at his side.

Griffin, who had a year to run on his contract, will coach out the remaining ten games of this season.

“It’s a big bad world out there. It’s business,” the outgoing coach said.

“Life’s full of challenges and this is one of them.”

Earlier this month, Bennett announced he would be leaving the Newcastle Knights at the end of the season.

The 64-year-old had been contracted until the end of 2015 but announced he would instead become a free agent, igniting a race between a number of clubs for the veteran coach’s services.

“A decision to appoint Wayne was made on the weekend,” White said.

White praised Griffin’s tenure as coach, saying that he “leaves a legacy of hardness.”

He also said that his own future would not hinge upon Bennett’s return, with the CEO sharing a close personal relationship with Griffin, who said that he has ambitions to coach again.

Broncos players were called into the club’s Red Hill headquarters today and informed of the decision.

The announcement sparked a flood of rumours that Bennett would return to Queensland to finish his NRL career with the Broncos.

Bennett was appointed the Broncos’ first coach when the club was formed in 1988, leading them to six premierships.