Kevin Walters to Coach the Kangaroos.

[Jonty58]

Kevin Walters appears to be the new kangaroo’s Coach for the upcoming Ashes tour.

 

Former Brisbane Broncos and Queensland coach Kevin Walters will be the new Australian Kangaroos coach for the end-of-year Ashes Tour.

Walters has signed a surprise three-game contract to coach Australia on their first Ashes tour of England since 2003, as reported by Michael Carayannis and Brent Read, meaning he isn't guaranteed to remain coach for the upcoming World Cup but would be the frontrunner.

 

The ARLC have been on the hunt for a new coach since Mal Meninga stepped down from the role to become the inaugural coach of the Perth Bears.

Walters was in a race with former NSW coach Brad Fittler and Storm great Cameron Smith to fill the top job, but won out over Smith after Fittler pulled out of the race.

Smith could still appear in the Kangaroos coaching structure as an assistant coach.

Edited July 20 by Jonty58

[Damien]

I think this is good news for England. I wouldn't consider Walters to be a top coach and he has Queensland baggage. I dont think he is a top name like a Meninga, or Cameron Smith would have been, either when it comes to galvanising a squad.

[Cumbrian Fanatic]

1 hour ago, Damien said:

I think this is good news for England. I wouldn't consider Walters to be a top coach and he has Queensland baggage. I dont think he is a top name like a Meninga, or Cameron Smith would have been, either when it comes to galvanising a squad.

I agree

In a series where we need quite a few things to go our way in order to secure victory I think this is a small step in our direction.

[Harry Stottle]

I doubt that the choice of coach will make any difference whatsoever to how the Kangaroos perform, those who will get selected are right at the top of their trade and profession and most probably have been in the best of environments since they have been very young through being recognised as the elite players of their generation, receiving the very best of everything from junior, to youth, to intermediate the sport can offer.

The Aussie coach is just a figurehead being glib enough to talk to the media, Australia are expected to win and in all probability will win, for which he will take all the accolades.

[Spotty Herbert]

The Aussies have a number of other issues that outweigh the appointment of Kevin Walters. Liam Martin isn't coming, Valentine Holmes will be missing due to injury, Tino and Latrell Mitchell are both doubtful due to injuries picked up this week and Payne Haas is allegedly switching allegiance to Samoa. Nathan Cleary is playing through injury at the moment as well. Their legendary depth may be sorely tested this Autumn.

[Harry Stottle]

21 minutes ago, Spotty Herbert said:

The Aussies have a number of other issues that outweigh the appointment of Kevin Walters. Liam Martin isn't coming, Valentine Holmes will be missing due to injury, Tino and Latrell Mitchell are both doubtful due to injuries picked up this week and Payne Haas is allegedly switching allegiance to Samoa. Nathan Cleary is playing through injury at the moment as well. Their legendary depth may be sorely tested this Autumn.

They have very formidable replacements ready and waiting.

[Damien]

24 minutes ago, Spotty Herbert said:

The Aussies have a number of other issues that outweigh the appointment of Kevin Walters. Liam Martin isn't coming, Valentine Holmes will be missing due to injury, Tino and Latrell Mitchell are both doubtful due to injuries picked up this week and Payne Haas is allegedly switching allegiance to Samoa. Nathan Cleary is playing through injury at the moment as well. Their legendary depth may be sorely tested this Autumn.

Yeah I agree but this is a thread about the coach and there is another about squads.

[Pulga]

2 hours ago, Damien said:

I think this is good news for England. I wouldn't consider Walters to be a top coach and he has Queensland baggage. I dont think he is a top name like a Meninga, or Cameron Smith would have been, either when it comes to galvanising a squad.

I don't think there's much coaching going on at this level. It'll be the staff around him and the vibe that he brings more than anything. It's not going to matter anyway. I can't see anything but a Kangaroos whitewash that will mean no Ashes for another 20+ years.

[Harry Stottle]

31 minutes ago, Pulga said:

I don't think there's much coaching going on at this level. It'll be the staff around him and the vibe that he brings more than anything. It's not going to matter anyway. I can't see anything but a Kangaroos whitewash that will mean no Ashes for another 20+ years.

Difficult for me to select the 'like' or 'thanks' emoji re your expected outcome, albeit I do agree with you.

But wholeheartedly agree with the first part as I suggested in my earlier post, in that it is irrespective who the Roo's coach will be, could be *Sir Les Pattinson and they will still win the series in my opinion, would love to be wrong though.

* Would love to have seen the press conference of Sir Les with Shaun Wane.

[M j M]

Picking Walters would be a great opportunity for England, if their own coach wasn't Shaun Wane. 

[Harry Stottle]

6 minutes ago, M j M said:

Picking Walters would be a great opportunity for England, if their own coach wasn't Shaun Wane. 

Couldn't leave Owen Trout out, can't think of any of the prop/second row candidates who have got the better of him this season.

[StandOffHalf]

I think Walters is a bit uninspiring as a coach and seems to struggle to motivate teams.

About the best coaching news that England could have hoped for IMO.

[Worzel]

Brilliant outcome! The bloke only has a coaching career because he has mates in the right places 

[Harry Stottle]

2 hours ago, Harry Stottle said:

Couldn't leave Owen Trout out, can't think of any of the prop/second row candidates who have got the better of him this season.

Well go on @Click tell me who?

[Harry Stottle]

41 minutes ago, Worzel said:

Brilliant outcome! The bloke only has a coaching career because he has mates in the right places 

Brilliant outcome who for? You expect that whoever is named as coach of Australia will make any difference?

[Click]

Just now, Harry Stottle said:

Well go on @Click tell me who?

You replied to someone talking about choosing Kevin Walters as coach for Australia being a positive for England with a post about Owen Trout playing in the SR/Prop.

I assumed you were thinking about the wrong Walters.

[Spotty Herbert]

5 hours ago, Damien said:

Yeah I agree but this is a thread about the coach and there is another about squads.

I'm simply suggesting that the coachnis not their biggest problem. Sorry if this is a problem for you.

[Harry Stottle]

1 hour ago, Click said:

You replied to someone talking about choosing Kevin Walters as coach for Australia being a positive for England with a post about Owen Trout playing in the SR/Prop.

I assumed you were thinking about the wrong Walters.

Yes I did didn't I opps, must have had a brain storm I was thinking about Walters at Wigan.

[Worzel]

4 hours ago, Harry Stottle said:

Brilliant outcome who for? You expect that whoever is named as coach of Australia will make any difference?

The Australian team can coach themselves, that’s pretty clear. But if they’re well coached then they’d probably be unbeatable, whilst if they’re poorly coached (and have to rely on the collective brains trust of all of their amazing half backs), then we may at least have a fighting chance. 

 

[DoubleD]

6 hours ago, StandOffHalf said:

I think Walters is a bit uninspiring as a coach and seems to struggle to motivate teams.

About the best coaching news that England could have hoped for IMO.

Fittler would have been better still 

[DoubleD]

11 hours ago, Harry Stottle said:

I doubt that the choice of coach will make any difference whatsoever to how the Kangaroos perform, those who will get selected are right at the top of their trade and profession and most probably have been in the best of environments since they have been very young through being recognised as the elite players of their generation, receiving the very best of everything from junior, to youth, to intermediate the sport can offer.

The Aussie coach is just a figurehead being glib enough to talk to the media, Australia are expected to win and in all probability will win, for which he will take all the accolades.

If that was the case, you wouldn’t see how much of an impact it can have at SOO level

[StandOffHalf]

4 minutes ago, DoubleD said:

Fittler would have been better still 

True.

[Dave T]

Of course it ain't necessarily about proper coaching as such at this level, but things can still go wrong with selections, tactics and the element of keeping a squad motivated and happy. Its a shame it ain't a longer tour than it is.

[EastLondonMike]

I guess if they need a coach that doesn't have club affiliations they are fishing in a very shallow pond. And the fact they've only signed him on for the Ashes shows they really don't think he's the man to replace Meninga.

Walters was a disaster at Catalans, and although he exceeded all expectations at the Bronco's initially, I've always felt his long standing association at Brisbane was part of the reason he had the turnaround that he did. Anywhere else and it would have quite likely ended just as it did at Catalans.

Good news for England definitely. But as has been mentioned, historically the Aussie team generally just need someone to hand them a shirt and they still perform, such is the quality of the players and the systems they come through.

Should certainly give us additional confidence.

[MZH]

As others have said, there isn't much actual coaching to do at this level, but it's still an important role. The coach unites every one, brings the vibe and the culture, and sets out the way they are going to play. If players don't have faith in their coach's ability you start to get them taking things into their own hands, and rather than everyone pulling together it can all get a bit disjointed. Australia probably have the quality of players to fix those things on the fly and overcome those issues, but any advantage we can get is very welcome.