'We will be fighting hard': Rabbitohs boss sends warning amid Wayne Bennett coaching rumours

Rabbitohs boss Blake Solly is adamant Wayne Bennett will be going nowhere and has sent a warning to Peter V'landys about attempting to poach the legendary coach.

The 75-year-old is less than a year into his second stint with South Sydney and the club has already shown major improvements, despite a horror injury toll.

Bennett signed a three-year deal with the Bunnies, which will see him remain at the helm until at least the end of the 2027 season.

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However, that hasn't stopped rumours heating up linking the seven-time premiership winner to rival clubs or even the soon-to-be vacant Kangaroos position.

Mal Meninga is widely expected to take over the Perth Bears expansion team in 2027, but the league will also welcome a franchise in Papua New Guinea the following year.

Bennett's name has been suggested to head up the PNG club - but given the timing of his deal at Souths, that would make things incredibly difficult.

When quizzed about it on 2GB's Mornings With Mark Levy, the club's chief executive Solly was ready to dismiss the links between Bennett and other coaching roles.

"No whispers," he said.

"I suspect that knowing how much affection Peter has for Wayne, I'm sure Peter would love him to be the inaugural coach at PNG just like he was at the Dolphins.

"I think my message to Peter is that we will be fighting pretty hard to keep him. 

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"Wayne is contracted at the moment until the end of 2027. We'd like to extend that, so we will sit down with Wayne at some stage over the off-season when our season is finished and have a discussion about staying.

"He's been great coming back to the club and I know he loves the club. Hopefully we can keep him for a lot longer than his current contract."

While a move to Port Moresby might not be on the cards, recent reports indicate that Bennett could coach the national team later this year for the Ashes series.

Bennett is seemingly open to taking the Kangaroos job for a second stint, but would still remain in charge at Redfern on a full-time basis.

Brad Fittler and Cameron Smith have also been touted as options to take over from Meninga, who will relinquish the job once he signs on the dotted line with the Bears.