NRL 2024: Brisbane Broncos poach Ben Te’o from Dolphins to join coaching staff in 2025

The Brisbane Broncos have bolstered their depleting coaching unit by poaching one of their former players from the Dolphins to join the club as an assistant coach to Kevin Walters.

Kevin Walters has poached Ben Te'o from the Dolphins.

Broncos coach Kevin Walters has made his first move to bolster his depleted coaching unit by poaching former Queensland Origin hit man Ben Te’o from the Dolphins.

Te’o will move cross-town and join Walters’ coaching staff next year as an assistant following the departure of John Cartwright (Hull FC) and Lee Briers (St Helens) to the Super League.

Walters is also understood to be considering Parramatta interim coach Trent Barrett for another assistant’s role from next season.

Barrett is a free agent and will not remain at the Eels under incoming coach Jason Ryles.

The loss of Te’o is a blow for the Dolphins given the former dual-code star is regarded as one of the NRL’s emerging coaching talents.

Te’o, 37, played 173 NRL games for the Tigers, Rabbitohs and Broncos during a successful league career which also saw him feature in seven Origin matches for the Maroons.

Ben Te'o is a big loss for the Dolphins. Picture: QRL

He embarked on a European rugby switch following South Sydney’s 2014 NRL premiership season which saw him selected in England’s Test team and also feature for the British and Irish Lions.

Te’o has been working his way up the coaching ranks, taking charge of Queensland’s under-19s Origin team this year along with Redcliffe’s Hostplus Cup side.

The Dolphins reserves are currently sitting fifth on the ladder and Te’o chips in with the NRL team alongside Wayne Bennett.

Ben Te'o played 96 games acrooss six seasons for the Broncos. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

But he will join the Dolphins’ arch rival the Broncos next year in what is a shrewd appointment by Walters, particularly with defence specialist Cartwright on the way out.

Speaking last week about Brisbane’s coaching shake-up, Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy said Walters’ team was aligned in their quest to drag the club back into the finals mix.

Kevin Walters will have a new-look coaching line-up beside him in 2025. Picture: Liam Kidston

“The guys went through a mid-season review process and I was really pleased with how they openly challenge each other in a constructive way to make the program better,” Donaghy said.

“Everyone is really aligned to that and the coaches work well together, they complement each other.

“It’s been a challenging period, but you learn a lot from your toughest tests. Their challenge is to fight their way through it and come out the other side.

“It’s a difficult job being the head coach of an NRL team. ‘Kev’ is always the first in and last out at the club to plot the path back out.

“We’re really happy for John. He wanted to challenge himself as a head coach again and we understood the reasons why ‘Briersy’ wanted to head back to England.

“Both have been fantastic for the club and Kev as well.

“They’re all working really hard to play their part in getting us back on track.”