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The contenders to coach NRL club Brisbane

3 minute read

Kevin Walters and Paul Green are the clear early frontrunners to replace Anthony Seibold at Brisbane but the Broncos will have options.

Coach KEVIN WALTERS calls out instructions to his players during a Queensland Maroons State of Origin training session at Sanctuary Cove in Brisbane, Australia.
Coach KEVIN WALTERS calls out instructions to his players during a Queensland Maroons State of Origin training session at Sanctuary Cove in Brisbane, Australia. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS FOR ANTHONY SEIBOLD AT BRISBANE

KEVIN WALTERS

Would be the preferred choice of plenty of ex-Brisbane players. Has spent a large part of his post-playing career as a Broncos assistant and is in one of the best positions in the game as Queensland State of Origin coach. Doesn't have experience as an NRL head coach.

PAUL GREEN

A clear frontrunner alongside Walters. Has been linked to the Broncos ever since leaving North Queensland earlier this year. Has the runs on the board as a premiership-winning coach in North Queensland and also finished his playing career with the club in 2004. If he loses out to Walters would surely be a favourite to take over the Maroons.

CRAIG BELLAMY

Brisbane's marked man for the past 12 years. The Broncos have tried to twice to bring him back after he left as an assistant for Melbourne at the end of 2002. After the most recent attempt failed in 2018, Bellamy indicated his current deal with the Storm that expires in 2021 would be his last as an NRL coach. It's hard to see how the Broncos could change his mind and see him exit Melbourne a year early at the same time.

SHANE AND BEN WALKER

Less likely but have links to the club and are desperate for a chance in the NRL. Helped turn Ipswich from wooden spooners to regular finalists and eventually premiers in the Queensland Cup with their unorthodox coaching methods. No NRL club has been willing to take a punt on them and it would be a massive call for the Broncos given their current predicament.

SHAUN WANE

Wants to coach in the NRL and firmly believes he would "kill it" if given the chance. Won the English Super League three times in eight years with Wigan. Would be an outsider and is signed to coach the English national team until the end of 2022.

TODD PAYTEN

On the lookout for an NRL job in Australia after saying no to the Warriors for family reasons. Is inexperienced but has impressed during his brief stint in charge of the Warriors, winning four from nine to put them back in finals contention. Would be a serious bolter if he landed the job.

STEPHEN KEARNEY

Has been an assistant at the Broncos before between stints in charge of Parramatta and the Warriors. Back living in Brisbane and is one of the more experienced coaches on the market after being sacked by the Warriors earlier this year. But his win-loss record of 43-76 will hardly inspire Broncos powerbrokers who are desperate to turn things around.

JOHN CARTWRIGHT

One of the most experienced coaches in the business still acting as an assistant at Manly. A frontrunner for the North Queensland gig who has made no secret of the fact he still has aspirations of being a head coach again. Took the Gold Coast to the finals twice but it's hard to see him landing the Brisbane job.

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