LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Former Ipswich Jets coaches Ben and Shane Walker have announced their new coaching position with the Western Clydsdales in the Queensland Cup.
The Walker brothers previously took the reins at Ipswich Jets, transforming the struggling team into the champions of the 2015 QLD Cup and State Championship.
Their innovative approach to coaching, characterized by a dynamic and attacking style of rugby league, pushed the boundaries of the sport.
After their tenure with the Jets, which concluded at the end of 2020, the Walkers have been considered for various NRL roles. However, their unique coaching style and the idea of co-coaches have deterred clubs from hiring them.
While having co-coaches would be unprecedented in the NRL, it is not uncommon in the QLD Cup. The Clydsdales, who lack an NRL affiliation but maintain a loose connection with the Canterbury Bulldogs, aim to improve from their disappointing bottom-of-the-table finish this year, with a record of two wins, two draws, and 16 losses.
"It is a real honour to coach this iconic team that represents a rugby league community that both Shane and I have grown up in," Ben Walker expressed in the statement regarding their appointment.
"We are proud to lead a region that is immersed in rugby league history."