Wayne Bennett to Queensland, Kevin Walters to Brisbane Broncos

Anthony Seibold became the fifth coach in a 16-team competition to be eliminated from a club on Tuesday after being sacked by the Broncos.

Seibold joined Stephen Kearney (Warriors), Paul Green (Cowboys), Dean Pay (Bulldogs) and Paul McGregor (Dragons) to try not to get through the COVID-hit season.

Kayo is your ticket to the NRL Telstra Premiership 2020. Every game of every round Live & On-Demand with no commercial breaks during the game. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming right away>

The Bulldogs and Warriors quickly announced their replacements, joining Trent Barrett and Nathan Brown, respectively.

That leaves three NRL jobs to be filled, but one more high profile position is likely to become vacant as Queensland homeland mentor Kevin Walters is determined to replace Seibold at the Broncos.

And that could lead to an unexpected reunion. Here we are on Wednesday morning.

LEAD BENNETT MAROONS?

He has five national coaching titles, but Wayne Bennett hasn’t been in charge of Queensland in over 17 years. The last time Kalyn Ponga was appointed to lead the Maroons, he was five years old.

However, the veteran coach is reportedly on the verge of a shock reunion and could help keep the Blues from having three consecutive straight wins.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Bennett could replace Kevin Walters as coach for the state of origin in the coming days, but it all depends on the fighting Broncos.

Walters becomes a potential successor to Anthony Seibold as a coach in Brisbane. If the Broncos choose the club hero as head coach, a place with the Maroons will remain free.

According to the report, South Sydney officials would not intervene if Bennett was asked by the Queensland Rugby League.

“Kevin Walters is under contract until the end of 2021, and if he coaches Queensland we want him 100 percent,” QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“We don’t want a half-hearted attempt and then we’re beaten 30 or 40-0 because we didn’t treat him seriously. If Kevvie can be 100 percent committed to Origin this year, then we see no reason he couldn’t train Queensland when we have him all to ourselves and not the Broncos.

“Our responsibility is to do what is best for Queensland and the state of origin, not the Broncos. We cannot and will not make any compromises. There can be no blurring of responsibility. There can be no distractions. “

GREEN A ACCOUNT AT RED HILL

Although Walters was named a favorite to take over Red Hill, rugby star Peter Sterling believes Paul Green is the better candidate.

While Walters has never served as the NRL head coach, Green led the North Queensland Cowboys to an NRL premiere in 2015, which bodes well for the 47-year-old.

“It has to be a consideration, doesn’t it?” Sterling told Wide World of Sports’ Sterlo’s wrap.

“Both of them have been successful as coaches, but Kevin is with State of Origin, that’s three games a year and it’s completely different preparation and completely different requirements than the weekly club coaching and all the extras that come with it.

“With Paul Green, you know you are signing a manager who wins the Premier League. That has to be an attraction in itself. He is also a former Broncos player.

“But Kevin Walters, he’s been looking for a gig for a long, long time. There’ll be a bump from the old boys. “

The Cowboys won 87 NRL games under Green before splitting from the fighting club earlier this season.

COWBOYS DO NOT PAY SECURITY

After Todd Payten turned down a job with the New Zealand Warriors, he appeared destined to become the new head coach of the North Queensland Cowboys.

However, Australian Brent Read has suggested that England manager Shaun Wane be a leading contender to replace Paul Green.

I speak to Fox League NRL 360 On Tuesday night, Read argued that Payten’s stellar work with the Warriors during the chaotic 2020 season may not be enough to secure the coveted position at North Queensland.

“Apparently (Wane) did a very good interview, he’s had a couple of runs with Wigan and England on the board. Apparently he also impressed the warriors when he spoke to them, ”Read said.

“It would be a risky move by the cowboys to appoint him.

“Todd Payten can’t do more with the warriors than he can now. He’s doing a great job. I think it’s pretty close, it’s very tight up there. “

However, Paul Crawley of the Daily Telegraph was quick to respond: “Todd Payten could not have done more to enforce his claims.

“He was excellent. I love what he did to the Warriors but to take on a full time role in a town like this. One thing that I noticed was that Johnathan Thurston was talking about who should be the next coach and he said they need an experienced coach.

“And of the competitors mentioned so far, John Cartwright seems to have the temperament that probably goes to the very bottom.”

Griffin tipped for dragon jobs

St. George Illawarra’s fifth and eighth Corey Norman have named former Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin as the Dragons’ next head coach.

Griffin, who has led the Broncos to three series of finals in four seasons, is reportedly the favorite to face the Dragons in 2021 after Paul McGregor left earlier this month.

This is music for Norman, who built a strong relationship with Griffin in the under 20s and NRL ranks during his tenure in Brisbane.

“I know who he is and what kind of guy he is,” said Norman, who played 62 NRL games for the Broncos between 2010 and 2013.

“I think it’s up to the board of directors and everyone who chooses this job. We’re just worried about ourselves down here.

“But (Griffin) is a good coach. I haven’t had him in a while, but I got along well with him. “

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that interim kite trainer Dean Young Griffin personally recommended the kite, while star halfback Ben Hunt also expressed his support this week.

– With NCA Newswire