The Brisbane Broncos have confirmed coach Kevin Walters has signed a one-year contract extension to remain with the club until at least 2023.
The new contract comes as Walters looks to turn things around at Red Hill, with the Broncos coming into season 2022 on the back of consecutive seasons without a finals appearance.
In his first season in charge last season, Walters endured a difficult campaign with Brisbane finishing 14th.
While the Broncos struggled for wins in 2021, Walters’ side did win three of its final six games, which Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy said was a factor in the decision to keep the coach on for another season.
READ MORE: Australian cricket legend Rod Marsh dead at age 74
READ MORE: Kyrgios working with Osaka in bid to return to top 100
READ MORE: Major change opens door for Djokovic
“Extending Kevin out to the end of 2023 now provides the stability we need to continue the improvement shown in the back-half of the 2021 season,” Donaghy said.
“It’s been well documented that we initiated a reset during last season and made a range of changes which resulted in better performances. As head coach, Kevin has played a key role in that change process.
“We have added some experienced players to our roster who they will play an important role alongside our emerging talent as we aim to move into a growth phase.
“Providing continuity over the coming two seasons by extending Kevin to the end of 2023 will give our entire football program the stability they need to keep improving and growing as a team and as a club.”
Walters said he was confident the Broncos would again be one of the NRL’s premier teams.
“I love this club and coaching the Broncos to being a force again in the NRL is a great honour,” he said.
“We built some momentum late last season and we have carried that into what has been a really good preseason in terms of on-field workload and building our culture and connection as a group.
“I’ve been very public in stating that I want to coach the Broncos to a premiership and that hasn’t changed and this contract extension provides that bit more certainty moving forward.
“We have a massive Round 1 game against the Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium next Friday night and the team can’t wait to rip-in in front of our home crowd.”