ENGLAND head coach Wayne Bennett is set to remain with Brisbane in 2019 after yesterday ruling himself out of contention for the Wigan vacancy.

The 68-year-old Australian is tied to the Broncos until the end of next season, when his contract with the Rugby Football League also expires, but Melbourne boss Craig Bellamy has been linked with a move to Brisbane, as early as 2019.

Bennett has revealed that he initiated talks with Bellamy, who is out of contract with the Storm this year, in an effort to find his own successor.

“I was part of the conversation about a month ago which I organised with the chairman and [chief executive] Paul White to talk about our future going forward as a club,” Bennett said.

“I told Paul that I wanted the responsibility to help get the best coach we possibly could for this club.

“I initiated it. I don’t want it unfolding without me having some control over it, without me being a part of it — I have spent 25 years of my life here.”

Wigan have begun the search for a coach to replace Shaun Wane when he steps down at the end of the season, but Bennett’s preference is to stay on at the Broncos.

The seven-time premiership-winning coach, who has had spells at St George Illawarra and Newcastle in between his stints in Brisbane, will take charge of his 800th NRL match when the Broncos host Parramatta tonight, but played down the significance of the milestone.

“I’ve always put the club before me,” he said. “It’s not about me, 800 games is just a figure. The club is bigger than me.”

Bennett will take a break from the NRL next month to take charge of England’s ground-breaking Test match against New Zealand in the US city of Denver.

He guided England to the World Cup final last December and in February signed a new two-year contract.