Bennett zips it on his future until October

Wayne Bennett has declared that no decision on his coaching future at the Broncos will be made until October in the wake of constant speculation about whether he will remain at the club beyond 2019.

Bennett made the announcement at the end of his post-match press conference following Brisbane’s 12-10 win over the Cronulla Sharks, a victory he hailed as the club's gutsiest of the season.

Bennett has been quizzed at length about his own plans beyond the expiry of his current deal at the end of next season. On Wednesday he suggested that it was time the chairman Karl Morris and CEO Paul White made some kind of public comment.

Bennett said he had spoken with Morris and that neither he nor anyone else at the club would be commenting about the future coaching landscape for at least three months.

"I have been talking with the chairman and it was decided that we are not going to make any decisions about coaching at the Broncos until the end of the football season, and I agree with that," Bennett said.

"From our point of view that's where it sits. We won't have any comment about it until the board meets in October and it is addressed then." 

Bennett had earlier praised his side's courage after the Broncos repelled three sets on their try line late in the game to hang on for a vital win and take them up to sixth position on the Telstra Premiership ladder.

"I was pleased with our defence all night, not only for the last bit but for other periods in the game. They [Sharks] defended well too of course. We had three or four sets on their try line. It was that type of game," Bennett said.

"It was certainly the gutsiest win of the year. It was a tough game and we had to guts it out. They got us down to their level and they like to play like that. They are good at that. That's their style, but we stayed with them and showed a lot of courage ourselves and didn't panic."

Bennett said his key players made a lot of good decisions in the second half with Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima both kicking with skill and tactical nous.

Big guns Josh McGuire, Corey Oates and Matt Lodge all stepped up against one of the NRL's leading teams on a night where defence won the game for the Broncos. 

"That is our third game in 12 days and they have all been top eight teams. It was a pretty tough journey for us and I am just pleased we have come through it," Bennett said of the loss to the Warriors but then wins over the Panthers and Sharks.

"Our defence has been coming together for the last five or six weeks and I have noticed a big improvement in it. Tonight, it just came together a little bit more. It is the right time of the year to start defending like that and it will give them a lot of confidence in what they do."

David Fifita came off the bench and played 53 minutes for Brisbane in another step forward in the 18-year-old's development.

Back-rower Alex Glenn went to hospital for scans on a suspected broken hand but it was revealed later there was no fracture.

Captain Darius Boyd's move to centre has stiffened Brisbane's defence in the past two weeks and he said it was a role he was thriving in.

"I am enjoying it. It is a challenge out there defensively and different to fullback but I think I am working well with the left side in particular," he said.

"We spoke about a few things this week on helping out the right side, and pushing guys over and having that defensive mindset, and so far so good."