Kevin Walters has made an eye-catching choice regarding his coaching career, signing a three-year contract to lead Super League giant St Helens starting in the 2027 season. This announcement was revealed by the Super League club this afternoon, Australian time.
This surprising development occurs while Walters is still the head coach of the Australian Kangaroos, indicating that this year's World Cup is likely to be his last in charge of the national team. Walters will guide Australia throughout the tournament before officially assuming his new role at St Helens once the World Cup concludes.
This transition sets the stage for another significant coaching shake-up in Australian rugby league, with Walters preparing to move to England and commit to the Saints through the 2029 season. This news is particularly notable as Walters only became head coach of the Kangaroos last year and quickly saw success by leading Australia to a commanding 3-0 victory over England in the Ashes series.
"I look forward to bringing my experiences as a coach and blending those learnings into the winning culture of St. Helens," Walters said after the announcement. "At the end of last year, I was in England for the Ashes Series as the Kangaroos Head Coach. I witnessed firsthand how tough, physical, and skillful the English players were. I look forward to being a part of Super League in 2027 with the Saints."
Walters' appointment signifies his return to full-time club coaching after his unexpected exit from Brisbane post the 2024 NRL season. The 58-year-old had coached the Broncos from 2021 to 2024, elevating them from near the bottom of the standings to a nail-biting Grand Final against Penrith in 2023.
He has also coached Queensland at the State of Origin level, adding St Helens to his impressive coaching portfolio. Notably, St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus shared that the ARL Commission assisted in making this move possible, expressing gratitude to Peter V'landys for his support.
Walters will enter the World Cup aware that his next coaching role is already secured, as Australia aims to defend their title on home soil before his transition to England. This situation could allow Walters to conclude his brief tenure with the Kangaroos on a high note, having already achieved an Ashes clean sweep.
Questions will soon arise about his successor as the Australian coach after the tournament, but first, Walters has one crucial task ahead of him: striving to leave the Kangaroos as a World Cup-winning coach.