Walters extends Queensland Origin tenure

Oct 23, 2017 - 12:48 AM Re-signed as Queensland coach for another two seasons, Kevin Walters now has his sights set on NRL club Brisbane's reins.

Walters is set to be groomed as the next Broncos coach by Wayne Bennett after the Queensland Rugby League allowed the Maroons mentor to juggle Brisbane assistant duties in 2018.

The QRL on Monday confirmed Walters - off contract in 2018 - had re-signed as Maroons coach until the end of 2020.

And as part of the deal, Walters was given permission to take up his third stint as Bennett's right hand man at the Broncos.

Walters - who will join fellow assistant Jason Demetriou - is in the box seat to take over from 67-year-old Bennett, whose current contract expires in 2019.

"I'm really excited to be coming back to work with the coaching staff and players at Red Hill. It's something that is part of me and I've really missed it," Walters said on the Broncos website.

Walters' stocks could not be higher after becoming just the third Queensland coach to win his first two series at the helm.

It has been enough to convince Bennett, who sacked Walters as his assistant in 2005 before re-hiring him two years ago to help guide Brisbane to the 2015 grand final.

"Kevin brought a lot to us the last time he was here. He knows the game really well, he has been a long-term coach and he is one of our great players," Bennett said of Walters who played 271 games and won five titles with Brisbane.

"He brings a lot that way; all his confidence and beliefs. He has a lot of belief in himself and that rubs off on the players.

QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher had no problem with Walters pursuing his NRL career while still holding the Maroons reins.

"First and foremost, we're absolutely thrilled to extend Kevin's contract as Maroons coach," he said in a statement.

"He's done a wonderful job to win back-to-back series during an extremely challenging period.

"Kevin's great passion is coaching, and as such, we support his desire to return to the NRL as an assistant coach with the Broncos."

Source: AAP