The Brisbane Broncos have made a stunning call, extending coach Kevin Walters a further two years until the end of the 2025 season.
That is according to The Courier Mail, which broke the news of Walters’ extension on Saturday evening.
The report claimed the Broncos are in advanced stages of finalising the deal, which is set to be announced after Brisbane’s trial game against North Queensland next week.
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Walters’ salary could reportedly reach $1 million a season should he win a premiership with Brisbane while at the helm.
“I’m really happy here,” Walters told News Corp.
“I don’t want to comment too much because we’re in discussions now, but we’ll wait and see what happens.
“It’s good if the Broncos are talking like that (about a new deal), but we’ll see what the end result is.”
The Broncos impressed early last season under Walters, surging to the top four before falling apart in spectacular fashion to finish outside the top eight.
Four Brisbane players, including skipper Adam Reynolds, backed coach Walters last month while speaking to foxsports.com.au, with Reynolds declaring his coaching had “gone to another level”.
“I know what ‘Kev’ delivers as a coach. I love Kev as a coach and as a person,” Reynolds said.
“He’s been terrific for me and has let me voice my opinions as well — we bounce ideas off each other.
“His coaching has gone to another level again this year. He’s really come back with a great attitude and he’s implementing his structures and systems on the team and he’s holding us accountable at training every day.
“I think it’s a real talent to be a sort of man manager because players are really drawn to those types of people and want to play for them.
“That’s one of the great qualities that Kev has got.”
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Already under pressure heading into the 2023 season, Walters’ coaching credentials came under scrutiny last month after Selwyn Cobbo claimed he was a “good person” but “not a good coach”.
“He’s a good person, like a good bloke but I don’t think he’s a good coach. He’s not the best coach but he’s all right,” Cobbo said while appearing on the ‘Back of the 135’ podcast.
“I feel like he’s just a good person but I don’t reckon he’s a coach. Even though he experienced footy, been through all the grand finals and all that, but I feel like he’s not a coach.
“But he’s a good person, a good bloke and does a lot for the club. But the way he coaches is a bit weird, I guess. He’s a good person though. He’s an all-right coach.”
Cobbo later apologised for the comments, claiming that they were “taken out of context” but admitted they were “silly” while chief executive Dave Donaghy called them “totally unacceptable”.
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The young Broncos outside back was fined $15,000 for the incident according to The Courier Mail, with $10,000 donated to a charity of his choice and a personal fine of $5,000 suspended.
“We don’t talk about fines externally, we keep those things in house, I’m not sure how it got leaked, but I will say that Selwyn has certainly learnt from it,” Walters told The Courier Mail.
“He has been really impressive with his pre-season.
“I am looking forward to having another good year with him. He is a good kid, we love him here at the Broncos and I am looking forward to watching him play for the Indigenous team and we’ll welcome him back next week in a Broncos jersey.”
