gordjw
NRL Player
- Jun 29, 2013
- 1,752
- 822
No Cookies | The Courier Mail
[FONT=&]
KEVIN Walters is bringing his Midas touch to Brisbane with Wayne Bennett giving the green light for the victorious Maroons coach to help reignite the battling Broncos.
The Courier-Mail can reveal Walters will resume his Broncos career on Monday after holding private talks with Bennett over the past week.
The return of Walters as a consultant is a major coup for the Broncos, who are desperately searching for a title-winning spark following a torrid Origin period that threatens their playoff ambitions.
Bennett urged Walters to stand down as Broncos assistant last summer to allow the 48-year-old to focus his energies on his maiden Origin series in charge of Queensland.
But after leading the Maroons to Origin glory, Walters is now back at Red Hill to inject a winning feeling and mentor struggling halves Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford.
Walters required the blessing of the Queensland Rugby League, but it is understood the QRL will not stand in the way of the Maroons mentor returning to the Broncos.
Brisbane board member Darren Lockyer said Broncos stars would relish the presence of Walters, who helped the club to five premierships as a player.
“It’s fantastic,” Lockyer said.
“Kevvie was there last year and at the moment the Broncos can do with a boost.
“The whole team is struggling, not just the halves, so it makes sense to bring Kevvie back.
“With the Origin series over, he has some spare time now so he can put his knowledge to work.”
Walters has been guarded about his Broncos return, telling the NRL 360 program on Wednesday night: “If it did bob up it’s something I’d have to speak to the QRL about.”
But The Courier-Mail understands Walters and the Broncos have been in negotiations in recent days. Bennett was supportive of the move, subject to final approval from the QRL.
QRL chief executive Rob Moore said it was important Walters’ Broncos consultancy cameo did not impact on his contractual obligations as Maroons coach.
“There is a provision where it could be allowed, but it would be subject to whether it would impact on his duties as Queensland coach,” Moore said.
“There are things Kevin has to do and they aren’t just confined to the Origin period.
“His role is broader than Origin, he’s also required for high-performance and coaching education.
“We would have to be convinced that it (working at the Broncos) wouldn’t impact on the delivery of the rest of his agreement with us.”
Lockyer believes Hunt and Milford in particular have missed Walters’ mentoring ability as a champion playmaker.
“You only have to compare what the team did last year with Kevvie there and where they are at right now,” he said.
“With Kevvie back on deck, I’m sure he’s been watching the halves and can see a couple of things that he can do to improve the guys.
“The fun element is one part of it but Kevvie is also a very clever tactician. He knows how to get the halves working with the fullback and I’m sure that’s something Kevvie will be focusing on.”
[/FONT]
[FONT=&]
KEVIN Walters is bringing his Midas touch to Brisbane with Wayne Bennett giving the green light for the victorious Maroons coach to help reignite the battling Broncos.
The Courier-Mail can reveal Walters will resume his Broncos career on Monday after holding private talks with Bennett over the past week.
The return of Walters as a consultant is a major coup for the Broncos, who are desperately searching for a title-winning spark following a torrid Origin period that threatens their playoff ambitions.
Bennett urged Walters to stand down as Broncos assistant last summer to allow the 48-year-old to focus his energies on his maiden Origin series in charge of Queensland.
But after leading the Maroons to Origin glory, Walters is now back at Red Hill to inject a winning feeling and mentor struggling halves Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford.
Walters required the blessing of the Queensland Rugby League, but it is understood the QRL will not stand in the way of the Maroons mentor returning to the Broncos.
Brisbane board member Darren Lockyer said Broncos stars would relish the presence of Walters, who helped the club to five premierships as a player.
“It’s fantastic,” Lockyer said.
“Kevvie was there last year and at the moment the Broncos can do with a boost.
“The whole team is struggling, not just the halves, so it makes sense to bring Kevvie back.
“With the Origin series over, he has some spare time now so he can put his knowledge to work.”
Walters has been guarded about his Broncos return, telling the NRL 360 program on Wednesday night: “If it did bob up it’s something I’d have to speak to the QRL about.”
But The Courier-Mail understands Walters and the Broncos have been in negotiations in recent days. Bennett was supportive of the move, subject to final approval from the QRL.
QRL chief executive Rob Moore said it was important Walters’ Broncos consultancy cameo did not impact on his contractual obligations as Maroons coach.
“There is a provision where it could be allowed, but it would be subject to whether it would impact on his duties as Queensland coach,” Moore said.
“There are things Kevin has to do and they aren’t just confined to the Origin period.
“His role is broader than Origin, he’s also required for high-performance and coaching education.
“We would have to be convinced that it (working at the Broncos) wouldn’t impact on the delivery of the rest of his agreement with us.”
Lockyer believes Hunt and Milford in particular have missed Walters’ mentoring ability as a champion playmaker.
“You only have to compare what the team did last year with Kevvie there and where they are at right now,” he said.
“With Kevvie back on deck, I’m sure he’s been watching the halves and can see a couple of things that he can do to improve the guys.
“The fun element is one part of it but Kevvie is also a very clever tactician. He knows how to get the halves working with the fullback and I’m sure that’s something Kevvie will be focusing on.”
[/FONT]
Last edited by a moderator:
