New Saints Coach…..

[philipw]

Kevvie Walters! 

https://www.saintsrlfc.com/2026/08/20/kevin-walters-appointed-as-saints-head-coach/
 

 

[Damien]

Well wasn't expecting that! Hard to know how this will go as his club coaching has been a mixed bag and the rep sides he coached could coach themselves.

I do think Saints have definitely done the right thing going the Australian route and he's as big a visiting name that they could realistically get.

All in all though a good move by Saints and the right direction. They desperately needed a reset and clean broom and this does that.

[lucky 7]

26 minutes ago, philipw said:

Kevvie Walters! 

https://www.saintsrlfc.com/2026/08/20/kevin-walters-appointed-as-saints-head-coach/
 

 

 

9 minutes ago, Damien said:

Well wasn't expecting that! Hard to know how this will go as his club coaching has been a mixed bag and the rep sides he coached could coach themselves.

I do think Saints have definitely done the right thing going the Australian route and he's as big a visiting name that they could realistically get.

All in all though a good move by Saints and the right direction. They desperately needed a reset and clean broom and this does that.

I seem to think that when he coached the Catalan Dragons in Super League he wasn't a great success. 

[Damien]

Richest coaching deal in Saints history:

 

 

[Damien]

7 minutes ago, lucky 7 said:

 

I seem to think that when he coached the Catalan Dragons in Super League he wasn't a great success. 

He wasnt but that was also his first gig, in France where he didnt speak the language, 15 years ago.

[lucky 7]

1 minute ago, Damien said:

He wasnt but that was also his first gig, in France where he didnt speak the language, 15 years ago.

Then not smart on his part to take the job in the first place.

You would have thought that he would have had some French lessons before taking the Catalan dragons job.

I hope for his sake that he's fully aware that Saints are in total turmoil at the moment despite their win at the weekend.

[Damien]

2 minutes ago, lucky 7 said:

Then not smart on his part to take the job in the first place.

You would have thought that he would have had some French lessons before taking the Catalan dragons job.

I hope for his sake that he's fully aware that Saints are in total turmoil at the moment despite their win at the weekend.

That's all very silly to be honest, as is judging him from 15 years ago when he has coached Brisbane, Queensland and Australia since. Everyone has to take their first set up somewhere and that's what he did from the Queensland Cup.

There's a world of difference taking a few lessons and managing a new team in a different country with all the complexities that come with that.

You know all that though.

[StandOffHalf]

Probably the right sort of appointment.

Could be a good reset, or it could continue snowballing.

[lucky 7]

2 minutes ago, Damien said:

That's all very silly to be honest, as is judging him from 15 years ago when he has coached Brisbane, Queensland and Australia since. Everyone has to take their first set up somewhere and that's what he did from the Queensland Cup.

There's a world of difference taking a few lessons and managing a new team in a different country with all the complexities that come with that.

You know all that though.

I wouldn't take a full times job in France if i couldn't speak French would you?

[Tommygilf]

30 minutes ago, Damien said:

the rep sides he coached could coach themselves.

Perhaps that is part of why they have gone for him.

Rowley was too radical a change and he didn't have the kudos amongst the elite players to either attract them or convince them (and the board) he was right even when performances were poor.

Walters may be more light touch with the squad because he is clearly used to an environment where the senior players run a lot of the show.

[Pulga]

Good appointment. He's definitely better than some current NRL coaches.

[dkw]

43 minutes ago, lucky 7 said:

I wouldn't take a full times job in France if i couldn't speak French would you?

I know at least 5 people of the top of my head who have done that n the last few years, do you honestly think every s ingle person who goes to work in France, Spain, Germany etc know how to speak the language? What a very bizarre argument.

[Damien]

45 minutes ago, lucky 7 said:

I wouldn't take a full times job in France if i couldn't speak French would you?

Most of the Catalans coaches haven't been any different to Walters in that, same with the players. Beggers can't be choosers and that's what translators are for. Football is awash with coaches that can't speak the language of the team they coach.

15 years on it seems a strange thing to get hung up on, he has much more recent relevant experience to focus on than that.

Edited August 20 by Damien

[Whippet13]

Catalans aside, had a 50-50 win-loss coaching record at Brisbane and Queensland in recent years. Doesn't exactly scream success to me, but we'll see.

[lucky 7]

21 minutes ago, dkw said:

I know at least 5 people of the top of my head who have done that n the last few years, do you honestly think every s ingle person who goes to work in France, Spain, Germany etc know how to speak the language? What a very bizarre argument.

They are probably the same people who complain when people from overseas can't speak English they they arrive there.

[M j M]

Shocking appointment really - certainly in the traditional sense and maybe in the alternative one too but we'll see.

It will certainly be an opportunity for Walters to earn some coaching kudos. He's generally bracketed into the "revving up the boys" type of coach rather than the club builder or the master tactician. Given we still don't really know whether Saints are a full rebuild or just need to extract more from underperforming players it's hard to say how this will fit Walters' abilities.

 

[Dave T]

Hope it's a disaster. Nowt personal to Walters

[JohnM]

1 hour ago, Damien said:

He wasnt but that was also his first gig, in France where he didnt speak the language, 15 years ago.

Didn't speak the language? He'll have the same problem in St Helens then....

And to the takeover of Super League by the NRL continues...

Seriously though, Saints wouldn't have let the current mess go on for much longer without some serious action. Their fans must be pleased and relieved to see this appointment, whist the rest of us must get used to Saints actually playing well, and winning.

[Chrispmartha]

It’s certainly an interesting one!

He does strike me as a coach that is better suited to getting the best out of the players he has rather than a full rebuild type of coach (could be wrong) but is that what Saints need?

Bluey at Leeds was similar but he took over a team that was highly successful and didn’t need too much coaching.

have they gone for a big name just because he’s a big name?

Australia and NSW don’t need proper club type coaches as the players don’t really need coaching, he did well with Brisbane but then fell off a cliff, not sure his time with Catalans is that relevant as it’s so long ago.

Will be very interesting to see how he goes.

[Nothus]

So you post a huge trading loss in your recent accounts, moan publicly about SL chairmen needing more financial support, and then you go and sign the richest coaching deal in your club's history?

[Barry Badrinath]

2 hours ago, Damien said:

He wasnt but that was also his first gig, in France where he didnt speak the language, 15 years ago.

Hes gonna have the same issues in sintellins,  where he doesnt speak the language. 

 

One interchangeable vowel sound

[Barry Badrinath]

33 minutes ago, JohnM said:

Didn't speak the language? He'll have the same problem in St Helens then....

And to the takeover of Super League by the NRL continues...

Seriously though, Saints wouldn't have let the current mess go on for much longer without some serious action. Their fans must be pleased and relieved to see this appointment, whist the rest of us must get used to Saints actually playing well, and winning.

Goddamit 

[Barry Badrinath]

40 minutes ago, Dave T said:

Hope it's a disaster. Nowt personal to Walters

I hope its as successful as his warrington stint

[Bull Mania]

2 hours ago, lucky 7 said:

 

I hope for his sake that he's fully aware that Saints are in total turmoil at the moment despite their win at the weekend.

I don't buy this. They're 3 wins away from Wakey, who everyone praises. They've had a ridiculous number of injuries too.

They have a basis of a home grown spine that could be the envy of the league in a few years. They just need to nail their recruitment which has been a total mess. But there's been a few sensationalist articles around Saints. A few good recruits and get rid of the dead wood but they'll be OK.

Walters is an interesting one. His coaching career is sketchy. Not sure i'd have made him the highest paid coach to get him. Time will tell.

[M j M]

20 minutes ago, Nothus said:

So you post a huge trading loss in your recent accounts, moan publicly about SL chairmen needing more financial support, and then you go and sign the richest coaching deal in your club's history?

Moaning about how much your rich backer is having to tip in is different to not tipping in. Coleman is evidently happy to keep doing it. And it may pay for itself if it stops say 1,000 fans not renewing their season tickets.