The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield “cannot understand” why the Broncos have reportedly handed head coach Kevin Walters an extension earlier than a ball has been kicked within the common NRL season.
According to the Courier Mail, Walters is about to be handed a two-year extension which can see his tenure prolong till the tip of the 2025 season.
Walters’ wage may reportedly attain $1 million-per-season ought to he win a premiership with Brisbane after the membership have been bundled out of the finals race in 2022 following a late fade.
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Walters’ facet drew with the Titans 24-24 of their first pre-season recreation with many optimistic indicators coming from the conflict — however nonetheless, Rothfield was confused why Brisbane powerbrokers have been in a rush to lock their coach in for the long run.
“Let us start of by saying Kevvie Walters is deadset one of the nicest blokes in rugby league, an absolute champion fellow,” Rothfield mentioned on the Big Sports Breakfast.
“But I cannot understand for the life of me why the Broncos at this stage of the season, after one trial match, have decided to extend him for another two years.
“I look at it this way, you do these contract extensions possibly if there’s a danger of losing your coach to another club and you lock him in long term.
“That’s why you do it, now Kevvie improved the Broncos last year but they bombed out pretty miserably in the back-end of the season.
“We saw yesterday they had a 24-all draw with the Titans, but I think it is an exciting roster he has got.
“Adam Reynolds will again be the key and hopefully his fitness holds up, but I just don’t think there is any need, they could have waited until Round 10 to make a decision.
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“The NRL have handed the club five million dollars a year above the salary cap and you want NRL clubs to spend that money responsibly.
“You don’t want to see them facing mass payouts for coaches, which a lot of clubs have wasted money on for far too long.”
The Broncos’ had a turbulent off-season in the wake of Selwyn Cobbo’s podcast comments in which he said Walters was a “good person” however “not a good coach”.
“He’s a good person, like a good bloke but I don’t think he’s a good coach. He’s not the best coach but he’s all right,” Cobbo mentioned whereas showing on the ‘Back of the 135’ podcast.
“I feel like he’s just a good person but I don’t reckon he’s a coach. Even though he experienced footy, been through all the grand finals and all that, but I feel like he’s not a coach.
Cobbo apologised for the incident and claimed the comments were “taken out of context” earlier than he was slapped with a $15,000 advantageous.
Senior members of the Broncos squad then went into bat for the embattled coach, and Adam Reynolds informed foxsports.com.au “I love Kev as a coach and a person”.
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“He’s been terrific for me and has let me voice my opinions as well — we bounce ideas off each other,” Reynolds mentioned.
“His coaching has gone to another level again this year. He’s really come back with a great attitude and he’s implementing his structures and systems on the team and he’s holding us accountable at training every day.”
Gun lock Patrick Carrigan additionally hailed Walters as the person to ship a drought-breaking premiership to Red Hill.
“There’s obviously a lot of pieces that go into footy clubs and we play a big role in that as well, whether that be on the field or off it,” he mentioned.
“I reckon at times we haven’t made it easy for the big fella, but we’ve got to wear that burden and he wears part of that burden too as the coach.
“Kev’s the man to do it. I love Kev, I’ve got a good relationship with him and I want to win a comp here so if Kev’s in charge then Kev’s in charge and that’s the plan.”
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
