Kevin Walters, Paul Green battle for Broncos job as interviews begin
The Broncos coaching job is one of the most prestigious gigs in Australian sport. As Broncos bosses prepare to launch an interview process, they’ve been urged to make an important consideration.
NRL
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The Broncos will ramp up their search for their new coach this week with skipper Alex Glenn hoping to have input on the man to succeed Anthony Seibold.
The Sunday Mail understands Brisbane’s board will opt for an interview process, rather than headhunting a specific coach, with a view to installing Seibold’s replacement by October 15.
That would give Brisbane’s next coach a full month to settle into his new office at the club’s $27 million headquarters at Red Hill before the Broncos begin the 2021 pre-season around Monday, November 16.
While Paul Green and Kevin Walters are the obvious candidates, other names mentioned as possible targets include Craig Fitzgibbon and Jason Ryles.
The Roosters have no plans of losing Fitzgibbon, the highly-rated assistant to Trent Robinson at Bondi, while Storm assistant Ryles is committed to joining Eddie Jones in England’s national rugby set-up at season’s end.
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Premiership-winning Ipswich Jets duo Ben and Shane Walker are rumoured to be interested in the Broncos post, but insist they will not be applying after missing out at the Titans and Warriors jobs in recent years.
One consideration will be the new coach’s ability to connect with Broncos stakeholders.
Wayne Bennett’s return in 2015 generated millions of dollars for the club and the possible appointment of Walters, a club legend loved by Broncos fans, would be an easy sell for Brisbane’s commercial team.
Broncos hierarchy must also consider player-coach rapport. Seibold struggled to form strong bonds with Broncos players and Glenn urged Brisbane‘s board to consider the sentiments of the playing group when selecting their next coach.
“As a captain I would love to sit down and discuss some options and have a seat at the table where I can voice my opinion on what the team needs,” Glenn said.
“I am not the one making the decision but I would like to voice my opinions about what the playing group would like, the type of coach we would want and I guess the staff around that.”
Brisbane’s most decorated current player Darius Boyd, who will retire at season’s end, backed calls for Walters to spearhead a Broncos rebuild.
“Paul Green started in a small role at the Broncos (as a halves coach in 2009) when I started my career at the Broncos, but I’ve had a lot to do with Kevvie and his record speaks for itself,” Boyd said.
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“From a motivational and cultural side, Kevvie is someone who has lived the Broncos culture.
“I think Kevvie would be the perfect fit.”
Broncos board member Darren Lockyer said Brisbane hierarchy wanted to give Seibold’s replacement a say in the composition of the club’s roster for 2021.
“We want to give the new coach a month to plan what the pre-season looks like and what he wants to get out of that period before Christmas,” Lockyer said.
“The process is kicking-off now with a view to having Anthony Seibold‘s successor sorted within the month.
“With all the options out there, we will do our due diligence to make sure we get the best appointment possible.”