NRL 2022: Brisbane Broncos coaching staff overhaul as Kevin Walters brings in Matt Ballin as assistant

A club legend is gone, and that’s not the only big move Brisbane are making as they head into a pivotal off-season determined to banish their late-season fade out in 2022.

Matt Ballin and Kevin Walters.

Brisbane coach Kevin Walters has made a key appointment as he fights to save his job at the Broncos, promoting a two-time NRL premiership-winner to assist him in his Red Hill revolution.

Former Manly hooker Matt Ballin will step up into a senior assistant coach’s role at the Broncos next year following the departure of club great Terry Matterson.

Matterson and football manager Steve Walters left the Broncos following last season’s dramatic fade out, which saw Brisbane slip from the top four to miss the finals in what was a stunning capitulation.

The finals flop has turned up the heat on Walters, who is off-contract at the end of 2023 and yet to deliver Brisbane a finals appearance after two seasons in the job.

Brisbane captain Adam Reynolds and coach Kevin Walters. Picture: Liam Kidston

Essentially, next year is make or break for Walters at a Broncos club that is desperately craving success following the leanest patch in its 34-year history.

The senior assistant coach’s role is a key appointment for Walters, who has retained former Gold Coast Titans coach John Cartwright as his other assistant.

Ballin, 38, played 220 NRL games for Manly (217) and Wests Tigers (three) during a distinguished 10-year first grade career.

He won two NRL premierships with the Sea Eagles (2008 and 2011) during what was a golden era for Manly under coach Des Hasler, who Ballin was an assistant to before joining the Broncos this season.

Ballin was stuck behind Queensland legend Cameron Smith for his entire career, but managed a sole Origin appearance for the Maroons in 2010.

Broncos assistant coach Matt Ballin. Picture: Tara Croser

A crafty hooker with a high workrate, Ballin has injected some modern-day knowledge into the Broncos’ coaching ranks, given he only retired in 2017.

He joined the Broncos late last year as a development coach tasked with guiding Brisbane’s fringe first graders.

Ballin has been so impressive in a year at the Broncos that he has been elevated into a senior assistant’s role heading into a crucial season.

Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy said Ballin was a coach on the rise who had the potential to lead a club one day.

“Matt’s impressed everyone at the club since he arrived and he’s been a great support to Kev in that time,” he said.

“He came highly regarded from Manly from his time working with Des and I’d absolutely put him in that category of younger assistant coaches with the potential to be a first-grade coach some time in the future.”

Broncos assistant John Cartwright.

Broncos players speak highly of Ballin’s coaching nous and character, which has prompted Walters to promote him to a senior assistant’s role.

Lock Pat Carrigan said Ballin had played a major part in his breakout 2022 season.

“He is a super smart guy,” Carrigan said.

“He has played a lot of footy in a pretty successful Manly team with guys like Jamie Lyon, Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans and Matt Orford.

“The way he sees the game and communicates, not only tactically with the players in the spine but also the forwards, is pretty cool.

“He was definitely good for me this year in terms of picking his brain. He is someone who encourages you to put in the work at training and use your skills as a player.

“He’s built a lot of relationships with the work he did with the Queensland Cup boys this year. He has only been at the club for one year but is awesome.”

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