Road to Reign: Inside Ben and Shane Walker’s quest to turn Clydesdales into contenders
Powerhouse coaches Ben and Shane Walker have shelved NRL aspirations to achieve something even more difficult - win their hometown Queensland Cup side its first premiership in 25 years. WATCH OUR SPECIAL VIDEO SERIES
Powerhouse coaching combination Ben and Shane Walker say they have shelved NRL aspirations completely in order to win the Western Clydesdales first Hostplus Cup premiership in 25 years.
The new role for the former league stars isn’t being used by the pair as a launching pad to rocket into an NRL coaching position.
The likes of rugby league immortal Andrew Johns pushed for their appointment as Des Hasler’s replacements at the Gold Coast and the Walkers met with Titans chairman Dennis Watt to express their interest in the role.
Months later they have a single focus, taking a Clydesdales side who has finished last on the ladder for the past two years, winning three games in 24 months, to a premiership.
“No at the moment,” Shane Walker said of any potential thoughts of using the fields of Queensland as a proving ground to clinch a gig at the top level.
“Our only focus is the Clydesdales. We’re not looking a minute past what we are doing here.
“That is our only focus.”
Coaching the club they idolised as kids the Walkers are confident they can bring a third title to Toowoomba with the Clydesdales winning the then Queensland Cup in 1996 and 2001.
A premiership in their first season would be a fitting reward with 2026 marking the 30th anniversary of the Clydesdales’ memorable 8-6 Queensland Cup grand final win over Redcliffe.
“That’s what we are here for to win a premiership. So if they (Clydesdales fans) are talking about that we’ve done our job,” Ben Walker said.
“It’s the goal with every team we have ever had.
“Our behaviours, the way that we train and the way that we coach and play will all be geared to winning grand finals.
“Nothing has changed in the years we’ve been coaching.
“This club deserves success, and we’ll do everything we can to win a grand final.”
A cup of coffee with in a Brisbane cafe with Queensland Rugby League CEO and great mate Ben Ikin followed by a few days of contemplation sealed the Walkers return to coaching.
The Clydesdales pre-season kicked off on Monday, November 24 with the Walkers taking charge of the session at Toowoomba’s John McDonald Sports Complex, the home ground where they honed their skills playing for Valleys Roosters.
“Benny Ikin is a pretty persuasive guy and a great mate of ours and over a coffee (with Ikin) and a few days of thought we locked ourselves in and once we did that it was pretty exciting,” Shane Walker said.
“Growing up the Clydesdales were the pinnacle in that period particularly when they won the comp.
“There were a lot of players that we looked up, players that had been through St Mary’s or played at local (Toowoomba Rugby League) clubs so it’s a good opportunity to be back (home).”
The Walkers, who coached the Ipswich Jets to their first and only Queensland Cup premiership in 2015, are not about to let any feelings of nostalgia impede their title aspirations.
After accepting the coaching position they immediately set about retaining and recruiting players.
“We’re really happy where we are. We’ve recruited really well and importantly, we’ve retained most of the squad from last season,” Ben said.
“Looking at the squad last season it didn’t look like it was great based on the results but we had a good look at video and we’re very happy about the players that we’ve retained.
“We know that we’ve recruited well for this year. We’ve recruited winners.
“That’s pretty much the best way to describe the players that we have recruited.
“They’re straight-out winners. So that’ll rub off on the rest of the team and we know that they’ve got great experience and great results behind them.
“So it should be exciting for next year.”
Exactly how the Clydesdales will look and play will be decided by Christmas according to Ben and Shane.
After the coming weeks the pair will be focused on working their squad hard before settling on a style of play.
“We have a big focus on competing hard and we always encourage our players to use and show their skills, to express themselves,” Shane said.
“So, the first couple of weeks, the first month into Christmas will be about exactly that.
“This first month will be all about working hard and assessing our players, their strengths, and then from there, we’ll build out a game plan and game style that best suits that.”
Originally published as Road to Reign: Inside Ben and Shane Walker’s quest to turn Clydesdales into contenders
