NRL 2023: Brisbane Broncos set to re-sign Kevin Walters on two-year extension until end of 2025

The Broncos have made a shock call on Kevin Walters future at Red Hill, as the club aims to break a two-year finals drought under his watch.

The Broncos are set to re-sign coach Kevin Walters on a two-year extension, to keep him at Red Hill until the end of 2025. Picture: NRL Photos.

Kevin Walters has clinched a $1 million contract extension as Brisbane bosses put faith in the club legend to continue his ‘Kev-olution’ and break the Broncos’ 17-year premiership drought.

In the first NRL coaching contract bombshell of the 2023 premiership, News Corp can reveal the Broncos will hand Walters a lucrative two-year deal that will keep the 55-year-old in the Red Hill hot seat until the end of 2025.

Broncos hierarchy are in the advanced stages of finalising the deal. The Walters upgrade is expected to be announced after next week’s trial against the Cowboys in a major coup for the Broncos coach heading into Brisbane’s premiership opener against Penrith on Friday, March 3.

Walters is off-contract at season’s end and there were fears the former Queensland Origin coach was in danger of being sacked if Brisbane missed the finals for a third successive season on his watch in 2023.

But Broncos officialdom have consistently preached the importance of stability – and that extends to the tenure of their head coach.

The Broncos are set to re-sign coach Kevin Walters on a two-year extension, to keep him at Red Hill until the end of 2025. Picture: NRL Photos.

The two-year extension will come as a shock following Brisbane’s stunning collapse to finish ninth last season, but Brisbane CEO Dave Donaghy and chairman Karl Morris believe the Broncos are charting an upward trajectory on Walters’ watch.

It is understood Walters’ salary could reach $1 million a season if he takes the Broncos to the promised land and delivers Brisbane’s first premiership since 2006.

As he prepares for Sunday night’s first major pre-season trial against the Titans on the Sunshine Coast, Walters was tight-lipped about his new deal, but said he was increasingly comfortable in the NRL coaching furnace entering his third season at the Broncos.

“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.

“It’s my dream job … I wake up every day and pinch myself that I’m in this role.”

Since succeeding Anthony Seibold as Broncos coach at the end of 2020, Walters has steadily edged Brisbane closer to where the club expects to be: in finals and premiership contention.

When Walters took charge, the Broncos were at rock bottom as NRL wooden spooners.

In his rookie year, the Broncos finished 14th and, last season, were charging towards a breakthrough finals appearance – they were fourth with six rounds to go – before a dismal late-season fade out saw Walters’ troops crash to ninth, missing the playoffs by one win.

But Broncos bosses are backing Walters to deliver a finals campaign this season and are determined to avoid potentially destabilising commentary if their coach remained off-contract heading into the winter months.

Broncos bosses are adamant that Walters has not lost the dressing room, despite some players making comments about his coaching ability. Picture: Lachie Millard

Walters has won 20 of 48 games for a 41 per cent success rate and his manager Chris Orr confirmed he is in negotiations on a multi-year deal for the club icon who won five premierships as a Broncos player.

“I am in constant contact with the Broncos in relation to Kev’s future,” said Orr of PSM.

“I know Kevvie never wants to leave this great club and I hope the Broncos see that as a real positive to have someone with that much passion for the club.

“All head coaches know it’s a results-driven business. Kevvie has come in and steadied the ship and brought back the Broncos culture, while taking the team back towards the pointy end of the competition.

“Given the passion Kev has for the Broncos, I can’t see a time when he isn’t part of this great club.

“He is as revered at the Broncos as his great mate Allan Langer (legendary Brisbane halfback).”

While the Broncos board will rubberstamp a two-year extension, it is understood Walters’ new deal will contain clauses to avoid the massive $1.5 million payout that was given to his predecessor Seibold.

There is a view the jury is still out on Walters, who has yet to deliver a finals campaign, but newly-signed Wests Tigers import Jock Madden has been impressed with the coach’s professionalism.

“I am loving it up here,” Madden said. “Kevvie is a big part of that reason, he and the other coaches have been extremely professional and I can already feel my own game will benefit with this move north to the Broncos.”

Walters says he believes the Broncos are moving in the right direction and can push for a return to finals in 2023. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Brisbane chiefs are adamant Walters has not lost the dressing room and the Broncos coach is confident he is the right man to resurrect Queensland’s flagship club as an NRL title force.

“I believe the club is moving in the right direction,” Walters said.

“Our pre-season has been very good and I’m confident in the roster we have that we can push for the finals this year.

“My time as coach has gone quickly. You are always learning as a player and coach. I was learning when I was coaching Queensland. Guys like Wayne Bennett (Dolphins super coach) and Craig Bellamy (Melbourne mentor) are still learning.

“If you aren’t trying to better yourself, you are going backwards.

“I love working here at the Broncos. I love working with the players and the rest of the coaches and I know we are moving forward. That will be seen over the next six, eight, 10, 12, 27 weeks of the season.

“When I took this job, I wanted to bring that togetherness and I can definitely see it and feel it.

“I can see it, but it’s up to everybody else to buy into it, too.

“The Broncos have been a successful club for a long time by playing at a high level every week.

“That’s what I want us to get to this year.

“It comes with maturity, a lot of our guys are 12 months older and wiser, so it’s all systems go for us.

“I’m feeling very comfortable in my role at the Broncos.”

Originally published as NRL 2023: Brisbane Broncos set to re-sign Kevin Walters on two-year extension until end of 2025