NRL 2022: Kevin Walters secures contract extension at Brisbane Broncos

Kevin Walters has secured his long-term future at the Broncos before a ball has been kicked in the 2022 NRL season.

Broncos coach Kevin Walters. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Brisbane coach Kevin Walters has secured his long-term future on the eve of the premiership by clinching a contract extension to remain at the Broncos until the end of 2023.

News Corp can reveal the Broncos and Walters agreed to terms on an upgraded deal on Friday evening in a major show of faith for the club legend ahead of Brisbane’s critical 2022 campaign.

Walters was off-contract at season’s end and the two parties had been locked in delicate negotiations for the past three months without reaching a definitive outcome, fuelling a view Broncos powerbrokers were buying time to assess his performance this season.

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But in the lead-up to Brisbane’s season opener against Souths next Friday night, Walters’ retention is a done deal.

Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy said the one-year extension would provide continuity to the football program following an improved performance in the back half of last season.

Kevin Walters has secured a one-year extension at the Broncos. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“Extending Kevin out to the end of 2023 now provides the stability we need to continue the improvement shown in the back-half of the 2021 season,” Donaghy said.

“It’s been well documented that we initiated a reset during last season and made a range of changes which resulted in better performances. As head coach, Kevin has played a key role in that change process.

“We have added some experienced players to our roster who they will play an important role alongside our emerging talent as we aim to move into a growth phase.

“Providing continuity over the coming two seasons by extending Kevin to the end of 2023 will give our entire football program the stability they need to keep improving and growing as a team and as a club.”

As revealed by News Corp, Brisbane hierarchy tabled the most radical coaching contract in their history last November.

They wanted Walters’ current deal to be shifted to a standard employment contract that could see him terminated at short notice without the type of hefty $1.5 million payout given to his predecessor Anthony Seibold.

But Walters was seeking more certainty. He asked Broncos officialdom to agree to an extension for the 2023 season, at which time the 54-year-old would then agree to be placed on a perform-or-perish employment contract for 2024.

The Broncos board have been told Walters should not be specifically appraised on Brisbane’s third-last finish in 2021 given the mess he inherited from Seibold’s wooden-spoon debacle the previous year.

The Dragons recently took the shock step of extending former Broncos coach Anthony Griffin until the end of 2023 to provide stability and there is a sentiment Brisbane chiefs should show similar faith in Walters.

Kevin Walters is determined to steer the Broncos back up the ladder. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

The Broncos have agreed to the request from the Walters camp, giving the coach their backing as he comes under pressure to deliver a finals campaign this season.

“I love this club and coaching the Broncos to being a force again in the NRL is a great honour,” Walters said.

“We built some momentum late last season and we have carried that into what has been a really good pre-season in terms of on-field workload and building our culture and connection as a group.

“I’ve been very public in stating that I want to coach the Broncos to a Premiership and that hasn’t changed and this contract extension provides that bit more certainty moving forward.

“We have a massive round 1 game against the Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium next Friday night and the team can’t wait to rip-in in front of our home crowd.”

The Walters proposal, tabled to Brisbane hierarchy in the lead-up to the round-one Souths clash at Suncorp Stadium, is also laced with beefed-up performance incentives.

Should the Broncos make the finals this year, Walters stands to pocket a $50,000 bonus. He would earn an extra $75,000 with a top-four finish, while a premiership win during his tenure could see Walters celebrate a $100,000 bonanza.

Kevin Walters is desperate for success at the Broncos. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

The Broncos are doing everything possible to ensure Walters succeeds, with Donaghy pointing to the $4 million outlaid to sign premiership duo Adam Reynolds and Kurt Capewell to kickstart a title revival.

“It’s about how we can continue to invest in Kev and support him,” the Broncos CEO said.

“Ben Ikin (head of football) has been a great addition, Dave Ballard (high-performance chief) is doing a great job and Kev’s assistant coaches (John Cartwright and Terry Matterson) are doing great work.

“Kev should have all the confidence in the world that we will continue to invest in him and the program. It’s important that we do so.”

Broncos board member and club legend Darren Lockyer lauded Walters’ impact on the playing group.

“I feel like there is more calmness in the club,” Lockyer said.

“Kevvie is starting to find his feet in his role as coach and he has good support from Ben Ikin, they have a really good plan in place so we’re in a good spot at the moment.

“There is a good feel among the players at training and Kevvie has to take some credit for that. The top-eight has to be a genuine goal for the Broncos this year.”

Originally published as NRL 2022: Kevin Walters secures contract extension at Brisbane Broncos