Sport Confidential: Sacked Broncos coach Kevin Walters set to join the Fox League team in 2025
As former Broncos teammates Shane Webcke and Darren Lockyer locked horns over Kevin Walters’ sacking, the former coach is set to join one of his former employers for the 2025 NRL season.
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Sacked Broncos coach Kevin Walters has found a new job.
Walters is going back to the future after agreeing terms to join the Fox League team for the NRL premiership in 2025.
Walters first started with the network in 2014, when the Pay TV provider snapped up the Queensland Origin legend and Scott Prince to join Ben Ikin, Gorden Tallis and Gary Belcher on their commentary team.
Now, in the wake of his departure from the Broncos, Walters is reuniting with Fox Sports.
Walters, who turned 57 last month, will be a key part of the Fox League line-up, providing expert analysis and commentary alongside the likes of Michael Ennis, Greg Alexander and Mal Meninga.
In his first stint with the network, ‘Kevvie’ proved popular with scores of rugby league fans with his happy-go-lucky demeanour and down-to-earth style.
Walters is closely connected to the game as a recent coach of the Broncos and he can provide rare insights into the NRL glamour club after steering Brisbane to the 2023 grand final.
BRONCOS GREATS LOCK HORNS OVER KEVVIE
Two of Brisbane’s greatest players, Darren Lockyer and Shane Webcke, have exchanged words over the sacking of Broncos legend Kevin Walters.
Sport Confidential can reveal Lockyer and Webcke were unexpectedly plunged into a robust discussion after the pair were guests at a sports lunch in Toowoomba last Friday.
Popular Toowoomba pub Fitzy’s staged a ‘Fitzy’s Feast’ where hundreds of locals attended the sold-out long lunch, headlined by the appearance of Lockyer and Webcke for an on-stage chat.
But amid the jokes and banter, the discussion turned serious when the dismissal of Walters came up as a hot topic - prompting Webcke to blast Broncos hierarchy for the treatment of club legend ‘Kevvie’.
Ever the straight shooter, Webcke’s typically no-nonsense critique sat uneasily with Lockyer, a long-time Broncos board member who was part of the executive that fired Walters in September.
Webcke, Lockyer and Walters are three Broncos icons, winning three premierships together in 1997-98 and 2000 as they helped spearhead one of rugby league’s greatest dynasties.
It’s why the shock dismissal of Walters, who was contracted until the end of 2026, evokes great emotion at Red Hill for many Broncos Old Boys, Lockyer and Webcke included.
The Toowoomba locals lapped up the spirited debate between the illustrious duo and while the exchange never turned nasty, Lockyer had to navigate a political minefield as Webcke went on the attack.
“There was robust debate, definitely,” said one guest who attended the event.
“They agreed to disagree.
“Webcke was critical of the Broncos and the way the sacking of Kevvie went down.
“He basically said the fallout wasn’t good enough for a club of the Broncos’ standards.
“He was adamant it should have been handled differently.
“Lockyer was on the back foot a bit.
“Locky was of the opinion that they had made a board decision and he was only one of the board members. He agreed the way in which it was handled was not up to scratch, but he said ultimately there would be no different decision.
“They stayed around after having drinks. There was no angst between them but it’s fair to say neither of them took a backward step.
“It was an emotional subject.”
In the wake of Walters’ departure, Webcke unloaded on the Broncos on SEN radio, accusing Brisbane bosses of lying about his good mate’s sacking.
“It can’t be anything else (but spin),” the 254-game legend said.
“When did it become our way to do things like this?
“We went from being wooden spooners to seconds away from winning the grand final under Kevin.
“None of us are happy with the season just gone, and particularly Kevin.
“But I think the smarter thing to do, and the right thing to do, would have been to let Kevvie coach next year.”
Speaking at an NRL grand final function for this year’s decider between Melbourne and Penrith, Lockyer said it was an agonising decision to part ways with Walters.
“Kevvie is a great bloke and that’s what makes it so difficult,” Lockyer said.
“It’s not pleasant at all when you have to move on a legend of the game.
“He was also five minutes away from winning the grand final last year if it wasn’t for Nathan Cleary.
“This year at the back end of the year the team fell away significantly.
“The call was made based on the playing talent that is there at the Broncos, which there is plenty of.
“We feel that Michael Maguire has some traits that will complement what the Broncos need.”
DCE’S BIG DAY
Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans is tying the knot.
‘DCE’ is set to marry long-time partner Vessa Rockliff on Friday.
The Manly skipper and Rockliff have one of the NRL’s longest relationships, striking up a partnership more than a decade ago.
They have been together for the majority of his 329-game NRL career and are parents to three daughters – Navi, Harvie and Tully.
The Kia Carnival-driving ‘DCE’ is a real family man and loves nothing more than spending time with his loved ones.
Cherry-Evans, 35, has long sported a wedding band tattoo on his left ring finger. Now a formal wedding is on the cards.
The wedding is expected to be quite the celebration.
STORM SIGN MINI-CARRIGAN
Grand finalists Melbourne are giving the cousin of Broncos star Pat Carrigan his big break to crack the NRL.
Former Canberra utility Josh Billing has secured a train-and-trial with the Storm as he looks to follow his more illustrious cousin Carrigan into the big league.
Billing has been invited to Melbourne for six weeks, where he will train alongside some of the club’s biggest stars headlined by Jahrome Hughes, Cameron Munster and Ryan Papenhuyzen.
Billing has signed with Melbourne’s feeder club Sunshine Coast and will get his chance to impress Storm scouts in Queensland’s Hostplus Cup competition.
The no-nonsense Billing was a member of Canberra’s victorious SG Ball Cup team in 2021 and two years later, he was named the Raiders’ Jersey Flegg player of the year.
That suggests Billing, a centre or back-rower, has a future in the NRL like his cousin Carrigan, a Queensland and Australia star who is vice-captain of the Broncos.
“Like Pat, Josh is as tough as nails,” said his agent Jeff Jurotte.
“He is nearly Pat’s height (190cm) and weighs about 93kg. He is a good country kid.
“Josh’s dad is Pat’s mother’s brother, so they get on really well as cousins.
“Josh went to Marist Ashgrove (in Brisbane) and like Pat, he has the desire to play NRL.”
COWBOY TAKES THE RAP
Cowboys prop Jamayne Taunoa-Brown has retired from rugby league and is pursuing a music career.
‘Yung Maynie’ has walked away from the NRL following 67 games for the Warriors, Dragons and Cowboys since his 2020 debut.
At 28, Taunoa-Brown had plenty of years ahead of him if he wanted to keep playing the game.
He made 17 appearances for the Cowboys in 2023 but didn’t get a game this year following back-to-back Achilles surgeries.
He has instead moved back to Melbourne and is working hard on his rap career.
With 18,000 monthly listeners on music streaming giant Spotify, Yung Maynie is making waves in the Aussie rap scene.
His hit track Brothers has had more than 1 million listens.
Taunoa-Brown was quietly spoken around the Cowboys but loved performing on stage and also studied youth work while at the club.
Coach Todd Payten and a bunch of Cowboys players even attended his gigs in Townsville.
COZZA ON CLOUD NINE
Broncos legend Corey Parker is giving back to rugby league by creating a new Nines tournament.
Parker has spent the past few months busily working away to establish the CP9s, a modified nine-a-side tournament aimed at growing rugby league at grassroots level.
The inaugural Nines event will kick-off on February 22-23 next year at Wynnum Manly and feature more than 800 participants from ages ranging from eight to 16.
Showcasing his negotiating skills, Parker, now a respected media commentator, has secured 11 sponsors for the event, including Village Roadshow.
“I’ve put a lot of work into it, meeting with CEOs and sponsors to get some backing behind it and we have got there,” Parker said.
“I’ve always wanted to do something to give back to the game and this is a great vehicle to do it.
“I loved playing footy as a kid and I just want to see kids get out there and be active.
“We’ll have 56 teams and 840 kids involved over the course of two days and this will be all about inclusivity for girls and boys
“There will be able bodied and non-able bodied options so kids with a disability are more than welcome to take part.
“You don’t have to be tied to a junior club at all, you can sign up and have a casual run around with your mates.
“It’s going to be a great event and I’m hoping it will become a regular thing.”
HUNT’S BIG SHOCK
New Broncos recruit Ben Hunt has spoken of his shock over the sacking of Brisbane great Kevin Walters.
Walters was an assistant to Wayne Bennett during Hunt’s initial stint at the Broncos and it was ‘Kevvie’ who gave the playmaker his Queensland Origin debut in 2017.
A champion five-eighth himself, Walters played a mentoring role for Hunt during their time at the Broncos before the club legend was appointed Brisbane coach in 2021.
Hunt is looking forward to being coached by Michael Maguire but is heavy hearted over the departure of Walters, who was a casualty of Brisbane’s dismal 12th-placed finish this year.
“I was pretty shocked,” Hunt said of Walters’ sacking.
“I love ‘Kevvie’, I have been involved with him for a long time and still stay in contact with him.
“To be honest, I didn’t see it coming, but that’s rugby league and I’ve seen all sorts of things in my long time in the game.
“You expect the unexpected these days, but it is what it is, the Broncos made a decision to move forward and I think ‘Madge’ (Maguire) is a good hire.
“I’m looking forward to coming up and working with him.”
LODGE PUNCHES ON
NRL enforcer Matt Lodge is determined to keep on fighting following his successful professional boxing debut.
Lodge made an instant impact with an impressive second-round TKO victory over Alexander Ale last Sunday at Sydney’s Bella Vista Hotel.
Weighing in at an imposing 119kg, Lodge hammered Ale with some crunching overhand rights and could become the most promising NRL footy fighter since Paul Gallen.
While Lodge is keen to fight Gallen, he believes the NSW Origin legend has moved on, but the former Broncos prop is keen to return to the ring.
“I don’t think ‘Gal’ will fight again, I think he is happily retired,” Lodge said.
“I would have fought him, but it would have been a bloody hard fight.
“He was good at boxing and the more fights you have, the better you get.
“I certainly loved it, it was a huge adrenaline rush and I would like to fight again.
“I was nervous just walking out. I had school friends and old teammates there watching.
“I felt the pressure to do well, if anything it gave me more respect for boxers and how tough a sport it is.
“For the moment, rugby league is my priority and I’ll be playing NRL somewhere next season.”
ALI GIVES BACK
Broncos NRLW captain Ali Brigginshaw is helping grow grassroots touch.
Brigginshaw popped down to Redlands Touch Association last week to present a $16,400 grant as part of the DoorDash Footy Cash program.
Brigginshaw and Australian Women’s Touch Head Coach Renee Murphy also helped 200 female players develop their skills, game strategies and confidence through a leadership talk.
“It is so important that these women see themselves not just as players but as important role models in touch football,” Brigginshaw said.
“Programs like this are vital to ensuring that girls and women have the support and opportunities they need to thrive in sport.”
A pool of $100,000 has been distributed to 24 touch footy clubs and individuals across Australia following successful applications in the DoorDash Footy Cash program.
FEROCIOUS KAMBOSOS IS BACK
Former world champion George Kambosos is set to fight in Queensland for the first time in 10 years when he headlines a blockbuster Australian card.
Sport Confidential can reveal Kambosos will take on Canada’s Mathieu Germain on a stacked card in February, with promoters finalising a venue at either Brisbane or the Gold Coast.
Kambosos won world titles at lightweight - famously shocking the boxing fraternity by beating Teofimo Lopez in 2021 - but ‘Ferocious’ is stepping up to super lightweight as he chases a new challenge.
Kambosos hopes to dispose of Germain (25-2-1) with a view to a potential Australian super fight against world champion Liam Paro, who defends his world title on December 7.
Kambosos has signed a deal with Matchroom and his main event against Germain will also feature a host of Australian female fighters.
Australian world champion Cherneka Johnson is set for a rematch against Nina Hughes, while fellow champ, Queenslander Skye Nicolson, will also appear.
Gold Coaster Che Kenneally will take on American sensation Claressa Shields in an epic unification bout, while Aussie heavyweights Justis Huni and Joe Goodall could also feature on the card.
OLYMPIAN’S BIG MOVE
Australia’s Olympic boxing sensation Teremoana Teremoana Jr has joined boxing giants Matchroom.
Sport Confidential can reveal Teremoana Jr has inked a deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom empire as the Olympian looks to return to the professional scene.
Teremoana Jr made history in July when he became the first super heavyweight in Australia’s Olympic history to win a bout with his savage first-round knockout.
While he failed to medal, Campbelltown kid Teremoana Jr caught the world’s attention with his monstrous 198cm, 120kg frame and impressive skill for a big bopper.
Now training out of Brisbane, Teremoana Jr is unbeaten in four pro fights and is set to make his Matchroom debut on a card in December.
The 26-year-old is one of Australian boxing’s most promising fighters and rated a future world-title challenger in the heavyweight division.
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Originally published as Sport Confidential: Sacked Broncos coach Kevin Walters set to join the Fox League team in 2025
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