Word out of south-east Queensland is that the struggling Titans have one name and one name only on their shortlist of coaching candidates.
That’d be Kevin Walters.
While the State of Origin mentor has publicly declared that he’s “committed to coaching Queensland”, the good oil suggests he’ll be named the club’s newest coach this week.
It’s just that rather than asking to be coach, he wants to be asked. And apparently the club will oblige him.
The question I’m asking is why are the Titans so desperate to get Walters on board?
(AAP Image/Dan Peled)
After sacking rookie mentor Garth Brennan and with the club on the ropes, the chairman declared the struggling franchise was facing their “last stand”.
“At the end of the day, appointing the coach is the probably the most important decision you are going to make so clearly we are looking for a strong leader with a track record of success who is going to have high personal standards and uphold standards throughout the organisation,” Dennis Watt said.
Now, I’m not going to question Walters’ personal standards or his leadership. But those are the kind of qualities you tend to discover two or three years into someone’s tenure – he’s just as likely to succeed or fail as anyone else on those counts.
The real issue the Titans should be concerned with was buried in the middle of Watt’s position description: a track record of success.
Of the three legit coaches they’ve had thus far, John Cartwright and Brennan were first-timers, while Neil Henry had winning records of 45 and 48 per cent from his respective stints at the Canberra Raiders and North Queensland Cowboys.
And after two rolls of the dice on unproven talent and a punt on a respected but unsuccessful mentor, the Titans have a trophy cabinet chock-full of nothing.
So it’s understandable this time around they want to do things differently and take onboard someone who knows what it takes to win in the NRL, because that person has done it before.
And who have they decided is the man for the job? Yeah, that’d be a fella who’s never been head coach of a first-grade NRL side.
Sure, he’s been an assistant to the likes of Craig Bellamy and Wayne Bennett, but ‘I’m a heaps good second-in-charge’ were the top lines of both Cartwright and Brennan’s CVs.
Walters was coach of a top-flight side in the Super League, although that was ten years ago – in the 2009 and ’10 seasons – and he left the Catalan Dragons having won just 37 per cent of his games.
While he can also point to the fact he’s been Queensland coach for the past four years and Origin is a spotlight ten times brighter than any NRL gig, well, it also only lasts six weeks per year – and you get the benefit of being in charge of 17 of the best players in the game.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Running an NRL side is a year-round job, during which time you’re not only overseeing a squad containing far less talent than a rep team, you’re also managing the cap, overseeing emerging talent, ensuring your players aren’t being dickheads on the piss, keeping competing egos in check, making nice with sponsors, attending fan functions, probably getting hauled in front of the board every few months…
It’s a bastard of a job, but the money is amazing and, by the looks of it, winning a grand final makes it all worthwhile. Regardless, neither the Titans nor Walters should equate ‘Origin coach’ with ‘NRL coach’. They’re chalk and cheese.
And, not for nothing, the Maroons have won exactly half their games under Walters – and haven’t had a series victory since Cameron Smith called a day on rep footy – so he can’t even claim to have a track record of success with Queensland.
Ultimately, I’m not saying Kevin Walters is a bad coach. I’m merely pointing out that he’s inexperienced as the top dog, and his little taste of first-grade and representative coaching hasn’t been successful in terms of games won.
All that said, success on the Gold Coast is going to be about far more than simply winning footy games. They need to cement themselves in the hearts and minds of the locals, and finally put to bed suggestions they are one bad season away from becoming the South Brisbane Titans.
But, in the same breath, winning footy games makes the other part way easier.
And maybe Kevin Walters is the man to get it done. But the idea he should get the job over other equally (un)qualified candidates without so much as presenting his case to the board suggests the Titans haven’t learnt any lessons from a decade of disappointment.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
Yeah I agree that it wasn't a great situation. The team he had inherrited, albeit a premiership winning one had just about reached it's expiry date. To quote the great Warren Ryan "the lemon was dry".
Ad-O
Guest
Let's face it. With players like Thurston, Cronk, Smith, Slater and Lockyer. That Queensland side coached itself. All Meninga and Walter's had to do was make the headcount on the team bus. Just like Zidane at Real Madrid, both of them are just about to get found out.
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
Considering QLD didn't win, it seems like the coach whisperer didn't work, but he shouldn't have made it, or allowed it to become public. Nobody knew who this bloke was, but we also didn't know that this whisperer has helped the likes of Trent Robinson. From a sporting theatre perspective though, I thought it was an entertaining spin off story as far as Origin was concerned.
Glenn
Guest
Look how the Panthers have improved once Gould was shown the door. Was he the problem all along?
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Walters was a serious possibility in my book until he enlisted that 'coach whisperer'. It became a side show with guys having to answer questions without mentioning NSW. Ridiculous and from what I saw, didn't help in the scheme of things. Skill, opportunity and determination made more impact than mind games.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
And I bet Bennett is quite happy about that atm...
Womblat
Guest
One thing Kevvie has that Bennett, Siebold, Bellamy, Toovey, insert name here, doesn't... he's likeable. That's a huge issue. Media plays a big part in the sport right now and the Titans need to get memberships rising, the gates ticking and seats filled to survive. Of course, winning is central to that, but a smiling, happy Kevin Walters at a presser is vastly preferable to a snarling, brooding Green, McGregor or Brown. Don't underestimate the importance of charisma and likeability to a club like the Titans right now. Geez they need it.
Mr Sportsbet
Roar Rookie
Even Craig Bellamy wouldn't have success at Titans. The environment is a distraction to the players and they don't exactly attract prime talent. How many premierships of any code have won at the GC in the past 40 years? That team has to be scrapped and relocated to Brisbane. Kevin Walters and coach shouldn't be mentioned in the same sentence.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
It depends what the Titans want in coach skills. I was given insight on Toovey once by someone with a bit of knowledge. He is a great motivator, not necessarily a great tactician. Now, that was a few years ago so times may have changed, yet I'd say being a good motivator would be a preferred skill.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I'd take me at the Dragons....
John
Guest
If Walters is appointed the Titans coach I guess the only plausible reason would be down to his media profile which could be used to promote the team more. With Bennett coming out and saying it's going to take 2-3 years to "fix" Titans, it's not completely implausible that he was brought in to say that to buy time for Walters, assuming his first 2-3 season's are as bad as most predict it will be.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Hi jimmmy, I like that idea. And stick you the guys long term plan for a ‘long term’. I think with the teams that are the perennial strugglers the NRL should do more. Help with cost and finding encouraging a ‘successful’ coach up there. Like I’d having some help from NRL retaining top players from leaving code or weaker teams in keeping a star.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Hi Joe. I agree with your points. It’s a roll of the dice, he does bring media attention, good qld feelings, and you’d be hope connections.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
To me the question is not who is going to coach the Titans but why would anyone bother?? They need to join the Giants, Seagulls, Chargers on the scrap heap of failures on the GC
Tom G
Roar Rookie
A bit harsh on Toovey. He had the Supercoach Brad “White Ant” Arthur as his assistant in 2013 who spent the year he was there making mates out of players at the expense of his coach. 2015 Toovey was told early on he was being replaced by a former Lowes catalogue model with his own garden furniture. Hardly motivational! Added to the fact that he inherited an overpriced ageing squad who thought they were bigger than the club like Watmough. All in all I think he was pretty good.
Nardio
Guest
The article makes a lot of sense. I think Anthony Griffin would be a solid choice ... Kevin Walters does not have a great coaching record, moderate is probably the word.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Will Walters bring the "coach whisperer" with him? Or perhaps a genie in a bottle or a magician. Origin is a different beast. Although the pressure to deliver is much higher, at least he has elite players to deal with.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
I’ve reached the conclusion that an Aboriginal elder has pointed the bone at that club. And it’s worked.
Randy
Roar Rookie
What's the story with Shane Flanagan, is he allowed to coach NRL again? He would be by far the best option if available imo.
Adam
Roar Guru
While I agree with your sentiments, the Titand are currently coming last soooo how much worse coule they do