Michael Maguire, Brad Arthur, Jason Demetriou lead list of Brisbane Broncos coaching candidates after axing of Kevin Walters

Up to seven candidates are set to fight it out for the Broncos top job following Kevin Walters’ dismissal, with Michael Maguire, Brad Arthur and Billy Slater understood to be among the contenders.

Brad Arthur, Michael Maguire and Billy Slater.

Kevin Walters’ departure has triggered an avalanche of interest in the Brisbane job with up to seven candidates set to fight it out for the Broncos post.

This masthead understands NSW Origin coach Michael Maguire will be among several names short-listed in the battle for the glamour top job following the shock dismissal of Walters on Thursday night.

Others in the mix for the Red Hill throne include Wayne Bennett’s former Brisbane assistant Jason Demetriou, ex-Eels coach Brad Arthur and Ipswich Jets premiership duo Ben and Shane Walker, who played for the club.

Queensland Origin coach Billy Slater could be another option after two series wins, while his assistant Josh Hannay is keen to coach in the NRL after recently missing out on the Parramatta job.New Broncos assistant coach Trent Barrett – an interim at the Eels this season – is another who could come under consideration given his head-coaching experience.

But Maguire shapes as a bona fide contender after steering NSW to Origin glory in his first campaign in charge this year and his previous history with the Broncos coaching position.

NSW coach Michael Maguire is understood to be among the candidates. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

Axed Eels coach Brad Arthur is another contender for the job. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

In 2018, Maguire was on a four-man shortlist to replace Wayne Bennett and was formally interviewed by Broncos bosses before losing out to Anthony Seibold, with Walters and Demetriou the other applicants.

Now the Broncos could go back to the future, with Maguire having the hot hand after his stunning resurrection of the Blues this season.

The 50-year-old is one of the most experienced coaches in the code, having steered South Sydney to the 2014 premiership – breaking the Rabbitohs’ 43-year title drought.

It is understood the Broncos have yet to identify a successor for Walters. But the club must move quickly, with the Broncos set to begin pre-season in early November after their 12th-placed finish this year.

Just last month, Walters hired two new assistants in Ben Te’o and Barrett and it’s believed the duo will be kept on at Red Hill under Brisbane’s new head coach.

The Broncos board will hope to finalise Walters’ successor in the coming weeks to hit the ground running in a bid to break Brisbane’s 19-year premiership drought in 2025.

Brisbane’s top job is one of the most pressurised in Australian sport.

Wayne Bennett remains the only coach to have delivered premiership success to the Broncos, with Ivan Henjak, Anthony Griffin, Anthony Seibold and Walters all having failed to deliver a seventh title.

The Broncos parted ways with Kevin Walters on Thursday night. Picture: Liam Kidston

Contracted until the end of 2026, Walters was informed of his fate on Thursday night and Broncos chairman Karl Morris paid tribute to the club legend.

“Kevvie did his best over the last four years and it’s the toughest job in the world being an NRL coach,” he said.

“Kev will always be a respected and valued legend of the Broncos and he will always be treated that way.

“I feel for Kevvie. He puts his heart and soul into his job, but these are huge jobs and people don’t always understand the pressure of being an NRL coach.

“He had four years of it and we have great respect for his efforts over the last four years.”

Speaking to this masthead back in 2018, Maguire spoke of his admiration for the Broncos and said he would love to coach the $80 million powerhouse.

Now Maguire is a serious contender to live out his dream at Queensland’s flagship sporting club.

“If ever the time was right to talk to people at the Broncos, I would certainly consider that and any other opportunity,” he said six years ago in his four-way battle to succeed Bennett.

“I don’t know the ins and outs of the Broncos, but Brisbane are a club most coaches would view as a strong club to go to because of the facilities and funding they have.

“Ultimately, it’s the people involved in a club and the ambitions and desire of an organisation to be successful that appeals to me.”