Incoming Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett has continued to put his stamp on the NRL club, signing Broncos great Kevin Walters as an assistant.
Walters on Saturday announced he had inked a three year deal to work under seven-time premiership winner Bennett, who is returning to Red Hill for the 2015 season.
After joining the Broncos from Canberra, Walters played 242 games, winning five premierships, including captaining the club to the 2000 title.
His return to Brisbane will come 10 years after he was sacked as an assistant by Bennett in 2005.
Brisbane’s other assistant, New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney, will retain his position.
“It’s very exciting,” Walters told Triple M radio on Saturday.
“It’s a great news for myself and my family.
“I love the Broncos and it’s a great opportunity to come back and work at a great club.
“They’ve done some pretty great things over the years and I have to say they’re in a very good position now too with their roster.
“Hopefully with longneck (Bennett) and myself there and with the other staff we can take them to the next level.”
After retiring in 2001, Walters went into coaching and served under Bennett at the Broncos before being let go as part of a club cleanout.
Following a stint with French-based Super League club Catalans, he returned to Australia to work under Craig Bellamy at Melbourne.
He quit that role last year before taking up a position as halves coach at Newcastle under Bennett.
Walters said he had always aspired to return to work at Brisbane since being sacked nine years ago.
“From the day I was asked to leave my main goal was to get back to the club. I just wanted to get better from a coaching perspective,” he said.
“At the time Wayne thought it was best that I move on and get more experience and information that I could hopefully one day bring back to the Broncos and help make them a better club.
“That’s what my journey has been over the last 10 years – I’ve been over to France for a couple of years, down to Melbourne for three, Newcastle. All gathering all this experience to one day bring it back and put it in place at the Broncos.”
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