Kevin Walters declares he ‘would have won’ premiership if he was still Broncos coach
He bomb out of finals contention and ultimately lost his job in 2024, but former Broncos coach Kevin Walters is adamant he would’ve tasted premiership success if he was still at Red Hill.
Peter Badel
and
Travis Meyn
11 min read
October 9, 2025 - 4:16PM
News Sport Network
NRL: Former Broncos coach Kevin Walters sat down with Peter V'landys to announce his new look Kangaroos squad.
Kevin Walters has declared “I would have won a premiership” if he was still at the Broncos as the Kangaroos coach faces an early setback in his bid to win the Ashes.
Walters watched on as the Broncos snapped a 19-year title drought in Sunday’s NRL grand final win against Melbourne.
The former Broncos coach went within a whisker of winning the 2023 grand final before bombing out in 2024 and losing his job to Michael Maguire.
Walters sat out this season but will return to the coaches’ box in England when the leads Australia into a three-Test series against England.
But he is adamant the Broncos would have tasted premiership success if he was still at Red Hill.
“I’m so excited to get back into coaching,” Walters told Inside Ball podcast.
Kevin Walters lost his Broncos job after the 2024 season. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
Kevin Walters lost his Broncos job after the 2024 season. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
“This is not just coaching, this is coaching the Australian team.
“Fortunate or unfortunate, I lost my job at the Broncos.
“If I had still been at the Broncos, sure I would have won a premiership, but I wouldn’t be doing this.
“I’m so grateful for the opportunity to coach our elite players.”
Walters has named a 24-man Kangaroos squad to fly to England next week ahead of the October 25 series-opener at Wembley.
But he isn’t happy with the travel schedule his team has been handed.
“We’ll assemble on Tuesday in Sydney, get all their fittings, we’ll go out for dinner and we fly out of Sydney at 6am Wednesday,” Walters said.
“The RFL (Rugby Football League), in their kindness, have given us the worst flight possible to be flying to England if you’re a sports team. It couldn’t have been worse.
Would Kevin Walters have done as good a job as Michael Maguire this season? Picture: Thomas Lisson
Would Kevin Walters have done as good a job as Michael Maguire this season? Picture: Thomas Lisson
“We have hired a sleep specialist, who specialises in overseas travel and sporting teams and making sure they get the best available preparation.
“You’ve got to adjust quickly. Little things like sleeping tablets and adjusting to arriving.
“We arrive in London at 8.15pm. We don’t want them going to sleep and being awake at 4am.”
“The players are flying business class and they managed to find me a seat up the front, but I’ve got to tell Gordie (Tallis, assistant coach) where he’s sitting.”
The Kangaroos will enlist London Broncos players for help at training and hold an opposed hitout against the French national team.
BUZZ v RIKI SHOWDOWN SET
The NRL’s latest grand final feud will be settled in the pre-season after veteran journalist Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield promised to come face-to-face with Broncos forward Jordan Riki.
Riki sent social media into meltdown in the aftermath of Brisbane’s grand final triumph over the Melbourne Storm on Sunday night.
One of the nicest and most polite players at the Broncos, Riki took to Instagram to call out Buzz over his criticism of the club and coach Michael ‘Madge’ Maguire.
“Someone send me Buzz Rothfield’s number – sack of potatoes, that fella,” Riki said before proceeding to sing “Buzz … Buzz Rothfield.”
The clip went viral and Rothfield responded via his podcast on Triple M this week.
“I love banter, they’d had a million drinks,” he said.
“I doubted Madge’s coaching. I looked like a genius in round 12 when they were 11th. I’m paying the penalty for it now.
“I don’t think there’s any nastiness in it whatsoever.
“I’ve never met Jordan Riki. I wasn’t sure who it was when I first saw it.
“There’s no drama. I like to see them having a good time, they deserve it.
“My first interview at the beginning of next season – I’m going to fly to Brisbane and sit down with Jordan Riki and say ‘here I am – you were looking for me’.”
Rothfield’s comments were posted to Instagram, prompting a response from Riki.
“My man Buzz, see you soon,” the Bronco said.
“Probably don’t listen to those voice messages I left you, dawg.
“Was the beers talking, swear mums (sic).”
We can’t wait to see the images of Buzz and heart-throb Riki hugging in the Red Hill cafe.
TITANS UNDER ATTACK
The Titans are under siege to retain rising star Cooper Bai after the Storm and Roosters launched poaching raids on PNG’s latest Test debutant.
Bai has become one of the game’s hottest properties following a stunning NRL debut in the final round of the season.
The son of Melbourne great Marcus Bai is contracted to the Titans until the end of 2026 – making him a free agent from November 1.
Cooper Bai is on the radar of some NRL heavyweights. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
Cooper Bai is on the radar of some NRL heavyweights. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
And he is attracting plenty of interest as the Titans scramble to upgrade and extend Bai to keep him on the Gold Coast.
Bai was on a development list contract this year but that won’t be enough to keep him at the Titans amid huge interest from rival clubs.
The Titans are clearing the ranks to free up salary cap space to retain promising prospects like Bai.
Prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard was released to the London Broncos this week and David Fifita is nearing a move to South Sydney.
FIFITA’S SIX-FIGURE SPAT
It is the final $100,000 hurdle that stands between Titans star David Fifita and a South Sydney contract.
Fifita will be playing under Wayne Bennett at the Rabbitohs next season if the Titans and Souths can thrash out the last stage of a severance package.
Fifita’s salary at the Titans is around $950,000 and under NRL contracting rules, he must be on the same wage if he moves to the Rabbitohs in 2026.
David Fifita is close to a Rabbitohs move. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images
David Fifita is close to a Rabbitohs move. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images
It is believed South Sydney have tabled a two-year deal worth around $600,000-a-season, with the Rabbitohs hoping the Titans will agree to a $350,000 subsidy to complete the transfer.
But there’s just one problem. The $350,000 asking price is too steep for the Titans, who were initially prepared to tip-in around $250,000 for Fifita to leave the club and start a new chapter at South Sydney next season.
Rabbitohs and Titans officials are continuing negotiations. There are two permutations. Either South Sydney increase their base offer to $700,000-plus, or the Titans agree to lift their subsidy, something they are reluctant to do given they are already battling major salary-cap pressure.
Should talks collapse, Fifita has the option of seeing out his Titans deal, but Bennett privately remains confident the former Queensland Origin star will be wearing red-and-green in 2026.
TITANS FLASH PLAY ON GORDON
The Titans will hold urgent talks with Rugby Australia chiefs in a bid to resolve Carter Gordon’s future.
Titans officials have rejected Gordon’s request to be released from his Gold Coast deal so he can return to the 15-a-side code with a view to playing at the 2027 World Cup.
But the Titans remain open to fresh dialogue and will hold further discussions over the next 24 hours to thrash out a possible release for the talented playmaker.
The Titans have rejected Carter Gordon’s release request. Picture: NRL Photos
The Titans have rejected Carter Gordon’s release request. Picture: NRL Photos
The 24-year-old Gordon was hoping to be a revelation in the NRL this season but he managed just one game for the Titans – in the very final round – after struggling with a complex back problem.
The Titans have a high opinion of Gordon and ideally want to keep him on their books next season to bolster their backline depth, genuinely believing he can be a smash hit in the NRL.
Gordon is on $450,000 next season at the Titans and the club is prepared to honour the deal, but Rugby Australia haven’t given up hope of securing the 2023 World Cup campaigner.
The likelihood is that Gordon ends up in rugby union at the Queensland Reds, but if he goes, the Titans don’t want to be disadvantaged by his move.
GREAT SCOTTS, LOOK WHO’S BACK
The Titans will go back to the future when NRL legend Scott Sattler and former footy manager Scott Clark return to the club.
Sattler will officially take charge on Friday as Gold Coast’s head of football, returning to the very role he held when he joined the Titans front office for their inaugural season in 2007.
One of Sattler’s first appointments has been to reunite with Clark, the Titans’ long-serving football manager who departed in 2015.
Clark will return to the Gold Coast NRL club later this month as football operations manager following a few years in charge of the Redcliffe Dolphins.
A premiership-winning lock at Penrith in 2003, Sattler played a key role in building the club’s first roster, with the Titans reaching the preliminary final in 2010 – still their best ever season.
Now 53, Sattler will soon be joined on the Glitter Strip by new coach Josh Hannay and believe the Titans can rebound quickly as a finals threat after this year’s wooden-spoon disaster under Des Hasler.
“I know from personal experience no club is ever too far away from winning a premiership,” he said.
“When I played at Penrith, we won the wooden spoon in 2001, we came third last in 2002 and then we made some subtle changes, we added Preston Campbell and Benny Ross to the group, and we won minor premiership and premiership in 2003.
“We went from last to first in two years. So every club in the NRL can win a premiership at any time.
“My role is to future-proof the Titans, so when I’m in a pine box one day, the Gold Coast have the recipe for success.”
BRONCOS POACH DOLPHINS ENFORCER
Brisbane have pulled off their first genuine raid on their River City rivals by poaching breakout Dolphins enforcer Aublix Tawha.
Tawha has inked a two-year deal with the newly-minted premiers and will complement a forward pack spearheaded by Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan.
Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf had a high opinion of Tawha and was keen to keep the late-blooming 26-year-old at Redcliffe next season.
Aublix Tawha is heading to the Broncos. Picture: NRL Photos
Aublix Tawha is heading to the Broncos. Picture: NRL Photos
But the Broncos have won the battle for his signature in their major strike back at the Dolphins, who poached Brisbane’s 2023 grand final duo Herbie Farnworth and Tom Flegler.
Tawha famously went toe-to-toe with Roosters firebrand Spencer Leniu in a spiteful showdown at Suncorp Stadium.
In a perfect world, the Dolphins would have retained the fearsome prop or second-rower from New Zealand following his impressive efforts under Woolf.
However, Redcliffe’s 2026 roster is full and the Dolphins couldn’t find a top 30 spot for Tawha, who made his NRL debut in round 16 against Newcastle and went on to play nine games.
Tawha is contracted to the Broncos until the end of 2027 and will look to break into their top 17 following the departures of forwards Tyson Smoothy, Kobe Hetherington and Fletcher Baker.
PEZET RULES OUT TITANS
Melbourne young gun Jonah Pezet has ruled out making a move to the Titans.
Pezet on Wednesday night informed Storm officials he will explore the open market, suggesting the 22-year-old is at long odds to remain in Melbourne for the long term.
Canberra, Parramatta, the Titans and Cowboys have been linked with Pezet, who had an exit clause inserted into his Storm deal if halfback Jahrome Hughes signed a new extension, which has since happened.
Jonah Pezet has ruled out a move to the Titans. Picture: NRL Photos
Jonah Pezet has ruled out a move to the Titans. Picture: NRL Photos
Pezet has played 18 games in three years for the Storm and is growing impatient being stuck behind Hughes and Cameron Munster, believing he is NRL-ready.
There remains a possibility Pezet could be loaned out to another NRL, just as Storm hooker Harry Grant was with the Wests Tigers in 2020, but the one certainty is the Titans are out of the picture.
The Titans have massive salary-cap problems and simply can’t afford the former NSW under-19s whiz-kid.
“I’ve got a lot of work to do in the next couple of weeks,” his manager Braith Anasta said.
“He loves Melbourne, he went there for a reason, he’s loved everything he’s done there and it’s positioned him into the player he is right now.
“But he’s also more than ready. He’s been so patient. How long can he keep waiting?”
MADGE FRONTS UP
There was no rest for the wicked at Red Hill this week.
Broncos coach Michael Maguire and CEO Dave Donaghy were at club headquarters on Wednesday conducting end-of-season player reviews.
There were a few sore heads rolling into the Clive Berghofer Centre as Brisbane’s NRL premiership players turned up for their end-of-season chats.
They had to get them out of the way before the players head on leave this weekend.
CARRIGAN KEEPS SPOON
Broncos forward Pat Carrigan has had a constant reminder of the pain driving him to NRL premiership success.
Carrigan kept one of the wooden spoons that was hurled at Brisbane’s Red Hill headquarters in 2020 after the Broncos finished last on the ladder.
Patrick Carrigan used the pain of getting a wooden spoon to drive him towards a premiership. Picture: NRL Photos
Patrick Carrigan used the pain of getting a wooden spoon to drive him towards a premiership. Picture: NRL Photos
Long-serving Broncos staffer Matt Middleton was filmed collecting hundreds of wooden spoons off the turf – and Carrigan ensured he kept one of them.
“I have kept one of those. I have kept my receipts,” he said.
“Our gear guy Matty Middleton means a lot to us. He collected all those spoons off the field, and I was really embarrassed for him because he started with Wayne Bennett and had seen the highs of this place.
“I always kept one and I said to him, ‘we are going to get back there one day’. I am keeping it just to remind me if you keep working hard you will get there in the end.”
Funnily enough, a bunch of the spoons were collected by a Broncos fan who wanted to use them as table ornaments for their wedding.
BRONCOS FAREWELL CLUB GREAT
The greatest servant in Brisbane Broncos history has cut the grass at Red Hill for the last time following a dream send-off.
Tony Spencer has retired following a 37-year stint at the Broncos that started with the birth of the club in 1988.
‘Springer’ has been there since day one with Wayne Bennett and was the final foundation employee of the Broncos at the club.
Tony Spencer, pictured here in 2011 treating Darren Lockyer, is calling time on his Broncos career. Picture: AAP Image/Action Photographics/Colin Whelan
Tony Spencer, pictured here in 2011 treating Darren Lockyer, is calling time on his Broncos career. Picture: AAP Image/Action Photographics/Colin Whelan
Having done nearly every job at the club over close to four decades, Spencer has finally decided to walk away.
And what a way to go out.
Spencer has experienced all seven premierships at the Broncos and bowed out after Sunday’s thrilling grand final win against the Melbourne Storm.
He’s been the gear steward, trainer, strapper and groundsman among many roles. He even cooked his traditional pre-match barbecue in Sydney the day before the big game.
Springer has had his fair share of run-ins with the Brisbane media over the years but credit where it’s due – he’s been a loyal servant of the club.
