NRL 2023: Brisbane Broncos bosses approve new Kevin Walters contract extension
Broncos bosses have rubber stamped a new two-year contract for Kevin Walters, but the deal is still far from finalised, with key details still up in the air.
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Brisbane hierarchy have rubber-stamped a two-year extension for Kevin Walters in a $1 million coup for the Broncos coach in his quest to break the club’s 17-year premiership drought.
News Corp can reveal Walters will be locked in at Red Hill until the end of 2025 as his coaching ‘Kev-olution’ gathers steam in the lead-up to Brisbane’s season opener against Penrith on Friday night.
The Broncos will hold their 2023 season launch on Thursday night and Walters will attend the gala event safe in the knowledge he has the ongoing backing of Brisbane bosses in his mission to revive the club’s glory days.
Walters is off-contract at season’s end, but the final pieces on an upgraded deal are falling into place.
It is understood Broncos officialdom have approved a two-year extension, with the parties now thrashing out key conditions such as Walters’ salary and performance bonuses should Brisbane make the finals, the top four or win the premiership.
Walters’ new deal is expected to be formalised - and publicly announced - next week in a huge boost for the club legend as he leads Brisbane into their round 1 clash against the premiers at Penrith’s Bluebet Stadium.
Walters’ former teammate, Broncos centre legend Steve Renouf, hailed the backing of ‘Kevvie’ and believes he has the squad to steer Brisbane closer to premiership contention this season.
“I really believe we have a team to make the top four,” Renouf said.
“They were in line to do it last year so there’s no reason we can’t do it this year.
“The one thing Kevvie does know is rugby league and even though we were an attacking team in our day, we prided ourselves on defence and Kevvie will bring that to this team.”
There was a view Walters was on shaky ground after Brisbane’s late-season collapse last year to finish ninth.
But since Walters succeeded Anthony Seibold, he has gradually edged the Broncos closer to cultural stability and finals credibility.
He has taken the club from the embarrassment of their first-ever wooden spoon in 2020 to the brink of the top eight in the space of two years.
Now Brisbane bosses believe they are on the launchpad to take off as an NRL force.
While Walters is under pressure to deliver a finals berth this season, Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy said last month club powerbrokers are firmly backing the coach to seal Brisbane’s first NRL premiership since 2006.
“Kevvie has all of our support. We are right behind him but also standing right beside him,” Donaghy said.
“Yes, he’s the conductor of the team as the head coach, but it’s a collective effort and we’re all in it together.
“He is doing a great job and we are absolutely committed to continuing to support him, as we are with the entire football program, to help us get back to where we want to be.
“We’ve been really clear that continuity and stability at our club is really important.
“We’ve been through a lot of change over the last decade and haven’t had a lot of success. That’s not a coincidence.
“Stability and continuity is important, but so is progress. We want to see growth in the program.
“Coaching is not for everyone, but Kev’s done a great job bringing people together. He’s been terrific at connecting everyone involved in the footy club.
“It’s a much more stable environment than what it’s been and that gets overlooked a lot in the whole discussion.”
Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds hailed the Walters extension, which could see him reach half-a-decade of coaching service by 2025.
“I have a lot of respect for Kev,” Reynolds. “He was a winner as a player and I’ve really enjoyed being coached by him.
“The players are right behind him and I’m confident he will get us to the finals this season.”
EXCLUSIVE: QRL TARGET BEN IKIN MAKES BIG CALL ON HIS BRONCOS FUTURE
Brisbane football boss Ben Ikin has withdrawn from the race for Queensland rugby league’s top job as he outlined his vision to help Kevin Walters make the Broncos a premiership force.
Ikin has revealed he won’t be applying to succeed Queensland Rugby League chief executive Rohan Sawyer and has pledged his full support for Walters in the Broncos coach’s mission to break Brisbane’s 17-year title drought.
As revealed by News Corp, Sawyer tendered his resignation last week, clearing the path for Ikin to potentially return to the QRL organisation where he served as a board member before his move to the Broncos.
News Corp can also reveal QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher held informal discussions with Ikin about the prospect of quitting the Broncos to run rugby league in Queensland.
But in a major boost for the Broncos ahead of their season opener against Penrith on Friday week, Ikin confirmed he will not be walking out on Brisbane’s ‘Kev-olution’ under Walters.
“It was flattering to have my name mentioned, but I’m committed to helping ‘Kev’ (coach Walters) get the Broncos firing again,” Ikin said.
“The QRL is a great organisation doing important work for the game, and I’m sure they will end up with a stack of quality applicants.”
Ikin’s loyalty will ensure front-office stability at a Broncos club under pressure to deliver a finals campaign this season after three consecutive failures, the past two on Walters’ watch.
Ikin was appointed Brisbane’s head of football in June 2021, but has had a turbulent tenure at Red Hill.
Broncos bosses held urgent talks last September to improve lines of communication between Ikin and Walters amid revelations of tensions between the pair.
Ikin’s return to Red Hill was hailed as a game-changing appointment for the club as the Broncos ramped up plans to deliver their first premiership since 2006.
But the head of football felt increasingly marginalised last season following a communication breakdown with Walters, his halves partner in Brisbane’s 2000 NRL premiership win.
At the core of the issue was Walters’ desire to control the football department as head coach – and how much input Ikin was keen to have in the running of Brisbane’s NRL program.
The pair clashed over some team-selection matters.
But Walters later said he had no insurmountable issue with Ikin and was open to suggestions from Brisbane’s football boss to ensure the Broncos hit back as a finals force this year after finishing ninth in 2022.
While Ikin was more than qualified for the QRL post, it is understood the 46-year-old had implemented some structures at the Broncos and was keen to continue driving the benchmarks of excellence Brisbane are craving.
QRL chair Hatcher confirmed his interest in Ikin, but said his desire to remain at Red Hill is a huge coup for the Broncos.
“Ben certainly would have been a great candidate for the chief executive role,” Hatcher said.
“As friends, we had a chat, we never spoke in any official capacity, but when his name was mentioned as a candidate, I felt Ben had all the attributes to be the CEO of a rugby league organisation, I had no doubt about that.
“I respect people who honour their contracts and I can understand if Ben wishes to remain at the Broncos.
“Ben was very open with us about going to the Broncos for all the right reasons as head of football and that was his passion, he felt he could make a difference to the Broncos and there’s no doubt he has already.
“I have enormous respect for Ben’s leadership nous. He is a wonderful asset for the Broncos.
“If you asked me if I could put a wish list out there of your preferred candidates for the job, Ben would have been high on that list. He is still hugely respected by the QRL, he made a huge difference to our board and he was quite instrumental in recommending Cooper Cronk to fill his shoes.
“From my point of view, the fact Ben has indicated he is staying loyal to the Broncos does not surprise me at all.
“He is supporting Kevin Walters, he wants the best for the Broncos and I respect that.
“I hope he is given the opportunity at the Broncos to deliver on his credentials.”
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Originally published as NRL 2023: Brisbane Broncos bosses approve new Kevin Walters contract extension
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