Broncos powerbrokers are reportedly set to hand coach Kevin Walters a three-year contract upgrade that will see his tenure extend until the end of 2026.
Walters’ current contract runs until the end of the 2025 season, however his new deal will see his salary increased and another 12 months added on.
The upgrade is seen as a huge showing of faith for the man who has masterminded a huge turnaround at Red Hill, despite losing two of three games so far in 2024.
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Fox League’s James Hooper revealed the news on NRL360 on Wednesday night.
“More positive news out of Red Hill, Kevvie has agreed to an extension and an upgrade, he was signed for this year and next year already,” Hooper said.
“They’ve given him to 2026 as well, so they’ve given him six years to try and break this drought which goes back to 2006.
“I think it is (the right call). Kevvie has shown with some of the decisions he made over the summer, some of the players he let go, the speed he’s tried to inject into the backline.
“The style of football he’s trying to implement, Kevvie can coach. He’s shown improvement, not only in the style of game the Broncos are playing, but also the way he’s gone and recruited tactically.”
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NRL360 host Braith Anasta also hailed the turnaround of attitudes regarding Walters’ tenure, with doubts consistently lingering surrounding his abilities as a coach.
Two of his players, Selwyn Cobbo and Tyson Gamble, as went on different podcasts and were scathing in their assessment of their coach.
However, after reaching a grand final in 2023, The Daily Telegraph’s Paul Kent believes he’s been able to “unite” Brisbane’s playing group.
“There were a lot of questions marks and conjecture over whether the players respected him when he first started,” Anasta said.
“Not only do they respect him but those big name players are sticking with him.”
“He’s his own style, he doesn’t fit into that cookie cutter style a lot of coaches do, and I think for some young kids coming through, that was an upset to them,” Kent said.
“They were like hang on… but what Kevvie has shown is an ability to unite a group, they’ve come together the Broncos. They’ve been good in their recruitment, that’s half the battle.”
The 2024 season is Walters’ fourth at the helm of the Broncos, having taken over after the club earned a wooden spoon under Anthony Seibold in 2020.
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It took three seasons for Walters to steer his side to a grand final, having come desperately close to winning an NRL premiership in 2023.
As it stands, Walters has a win percentage of 52.5 per cent across his 78 games, and told News Corp he’s excited to remain at the helm of the Broncos.
“I feel very fortunate to work in an industry like the NRL, where, yes, there’s pressure to perform, but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” he said.
“Last year was a huge positive for the club, we took so many leanings from it and I’m not disappointed at all with how last season ended.
“It’s a privilege coaching this group and we’re ready to go – we’re pumped for a new season.”
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