NRL: Dragons face the Bennett question

It's unclear where Wayne Bennett, seen here talking to his Dragons players, will be in the 2012 season. Photo / Getty Images

A giant question-mark hangs over the Dragons' season.

The re-signing of master coach Wayne Bennett shapes as the final step in St George Illawarra's plans for an NRL dynasty, but the defending premiers are adamant success can be achieved even without the game's most successful tactician.

The club has done well to secure the services of key players.

The retention of Kiwi test winger Jason Nightingale through to the end of the 2015 on Wednesday made it eight players from this weekend's starting 13 who are now under lock and key for at least the next three years.

Only Matt Cooper and Darius Boyd of the side that will run out when the red and whites kick off their premiership defence against Gold Coast at Skilled Park on Saturday are not contracted beyond 2011, although Cooper is deep in negotiations about finishing his career at the club.

That leaves Boyd and Bennett, who are likely to come as a high-priced package deal to whichever club can woo the latter, given Boyd has already voiced his desire to follow the only coach he has ever had.

South Sydney and Newcastle - via potential owner Nathan Tinkler - have already expressed their interest in Bennett, but the firming option remains a return to Brisbane for the pair.

The Broncos still have room to spare under the salary cap following the non-signing of Greg Inglis last year.

But beyond the obvious question-mark over Boyd and Bennett, the Dragons - minor premiers the last two seasons - have the most settled roster in the competition.

Test winger Brett Morris joins Nathan Fien and Beau Scott in coming off contract at the end of 2012, but the remainder will all wear the red and white until at least 2013.

Nightingale, among the most underrated players in the NRL, admitted the coaching situation beyond 2011 had been a discussion point in negotiations.

But with the majority of the side set to stay together for the next few years at least, Nightingale - who played the first 40 games of his career under Nathan Brown before Bennett's arrival - said the future looked bright no matter who was in charge.

"There was obviously that thought with all the hype around if Wayne's staying or if he's going, but I was more thinking about the club than the coach," Nightingale said. "I'm a St George junior, I've been here for a long time.

"A change of staff, I've been through that, I've seen what it's done and I'm confident that the club - whoever the coach is in the coming years - is going to be strong."

Asked if he pressed Bennett for a clue as to his 2012 whereabouts, Nightingale said: "I didn't want to put pressure on him to decide what his future is ... I was basing my decision on what I know to be a good club [rather] than who's coaching."

The by-product of Nightingale's re-signing and Cooper's probable retention is the diminishing of the Dragons' salary cap reserves and could be an indication the club may have already given up on holding onto Boyd.

That is likely to see the premiers turn their attention to a more affordable option, such as young gun Kyle Stanley who showed his immense potential in his few appearances in the top grade in 2010.

But it is the question-mark hanging over the coach that the club most needs to address.

- AAP