Former Brisbane Broncos legend Justin Hodges believes the club has lost its 'hard edge' under Wayne Bennett and has declared Queensland Maroons boss Kevin Walters the best man to rebuild the club’s brand.
Walters is one of four men on the Broncos’ shortlist to replace Bennett in 2020 after the board decided not to offer the 68-year-old a contract extension.
South Sydney coach Anthony Seibold, who won Dally M coach of the year in his rookie season with the Bunnies, has emerged as the favourite to succeed Bennett at Red Hill.
But Hodges believes fellow club legend Walters deserves his shot as an NRL head coach at the club he won five premierships for as a player.
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“I’ve always said Kevvie,” Hodges told Triple M’s Dead Set Legends when asked who he would like to see replace Bennett at Red Hill in 2020.
“I think he’s proven himself in the Origin arena, what he’s done the last three years has been remarkable.
“And he’s spent time under Wayne Bennett before and spent time under Craig Bellamy who are two of the best coaches of all time.
“We need a guy who’s going to be strong and knows the history and the values of the Broncos and what better man than Kevvie Walters who won five competitions for the place.
“I’m hoping he gets it because I think that’s what we need – we need to get that Broncos brand back to where it was.
“I think we’ve lost that hard edge and I think he’s the right man to get us back to where we need to be.”
Seibold, former Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire and current Broncos assistant Jason Demetriou have already been interviewed.
According to The Courier Mail, Walters will face the three-man panel of Darren Lockyer, Paul White and Karl Morris on Tuesday.
Walters was sacked by Bennett in 2005 but returned as an assistant coach in 2018, only to resign in April to focus on the Maroons job.
If the 51-year-old is given the nod by the Broncos it is understood the Queensland Rugby League (QRL) would allow him to coach the Maroons in 2019 before releasing him from the final year of his deal.
