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Kevin David Walters (born 20 October 1967 in Rockhampton, Queensland[1]) is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s 90s and 2000s, and current coach of Super League club, Catalans Dragons. He is a former Australian Kangaroos and Queensland Maroons representative, and Brisbane Broncos premiership-winning captain.
Along with twin Kerrod and older brother Steve, Kevin Walters started his career in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership before joining the NSWRL. He spent some time playing for the Canberra Raiders before moving to the Brisbane Broncos, where he played for the majority of his career and took over the club's captaincy. He has played in premiership-winning teams on six occasions and holds the record for most finals appearances,[1]. He has since coached in the Queensland Cup competition.
[edit] Playing career
[edit] Canberra Raiders
Walters grew up playing football alongside future Brisbane Broncos (and Queensland) team mate Allan Langer and brothers Steve and Kerrod Walters. This combination of players was known famously as "The Ipswich Connection". Kevin then followed his brother Steve to the Canberra Raiders in 1987 and was a reserve as a 19-year-old in the club's 1987 Grand Final. That year he was named the Raiders' Rookie of the Year.
Walters made his State of Origin debut for the Queensland Maroons in 1989, as a reserve. Later in the year he played in the 1989 Grand Final win for Canberra. Walters returned to Queensland in 1990, signing with the Brisbane Broncos.
[edit] Brisbane Broncos
In 1990, Wally Lewis was the Broncos' first choice for the five-eighth position, but coach Wayne Bennett moved Lewis to lock and Walters to five-eighth. This was because of Walters' darting runs and deft passing. That year he won the Broncos' Player of the Year award. Walters also made selection for the 1990 Kangaroo tour of Britain and France with twin brother Kerrod, but did not get to play a test until the tour of Papua New Guinea. Kerrod and Kevin Walters hold the distinction of being the only twin brothers to play rugby league for Australia.
Walters helped the Broncos to victory in the 1992 Grand Final which Brisbane won 28-8 against the St George Dragons. The Walters brothers had already become the first trio to play for Queensland and Australia in 1992 and they achieved another milestone when all three were selected to tour with the World Cup squad. In England Kevin Walters threw the winning pass to Steve Renouf's try to win the game 10-6 in Australia's 1992 World Cup final victory. 1992 was a great year for Walters, with further victory in the World Club Challenge against Wigan.
The following year Walters again proved a great utility for the Broncos' 1993 grand final victory. Although not a consistent player for the Maroons, Walters was part of the winning 1998 State of Origin team, dummying his way over for a try in the decider[2]. In 1999, Walters captained Queensland in the second State of Origin match.
In 2000 Walters was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australia's international standing in the sport of rugby league. After solid performances through the years, he moved to England at the end of 2000 at the request of Allan Langer[3]. He played for Warrington briefly[4] and decided it was not for him and his family, so moved back to Australia, playing his final season with the Broncos in 2001[5].
[edit] Coaching career
Walters went on to coach the Toowoomba Clydesdales in the Queensland Cup competition and was also assistant coach under Bennett for the Brisbane Broncos. He then became head coach of the Ipswich Jets playing in the Queensland Cup before attracting the attention of Europe's Super League.
[edit] Catalans Dragons
Walters was appointed as the new coach of Catalans Dragons from the 2009 season[6]. He had been linked with the role of Head Coach at the French Super League team for some time[7]. His first season at Catalans did not start well, with only one win from the club's first 6 matches.
[edit] Life outside football
In 1996 Walters' wife, Kim, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Following her death in 1998, Kevin established the Kim Walters Choices program at the Wesley Hospital in Brisbane.
Walters' book, Brave Hearts was published in 1999.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
