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Kangaroos head coach Kevin Walters has indicated his eagerness to bring on former Broncos assistant Ben Te’o to his coaching staff in anticipation of this year’s Rugby League World Cup.
Te’o departed the Broncos last month following a dispute with Michael Maguire, only a few months after they celebrated ending the club’s 19-year premiership drought together.
The ex-Rabbitohs premiership player had been speculated to join Billy Slater’s Maroons coaching team both before and after his exit from Red Hill.
The 39-year-old shared on Triple M’s Saturday Scrum that he has not had any formal discussions regarding coaching roles during this year’s State of Origin series.
Ben Te’o’s departure from the Broncos was controversial. NRL Imagery
“I haven’t had any discussions yet. Currently, I’m a free agent,” Te’o stated.
“I expect that conversations will take place in the coming months.”
While no coaching arrangements have been formalised for Te’o so far, a decision may come soon.
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In a recent appearance on Wide World of Sports’ QLDER, Walters was asked if he desired Te’o to join the Australian staff, and he made his intentions quite clear.
“He’s definitely on my radar,” Walters remarked.
“I would love to include him in the team; he’s an excellent young coach. I appreciate his calm demeanour and ability to handle situations well from what I’ve observed.”
“He’d be a valuable addition to the group if we can make it work.”
Kevin Walters has been at the helm of the Kangaroos since last year. Getty
Should Walters secure Te’o’s services, it would significantly bolster the Kangaroos’ coaching line-up, especially as they prepare for a World Cup that is shaping up to be the toughest challenge for Australia since 2008.
This development would also add to the ongoing drama surrounding Brisbane.
Walters was the one who initially recruited Te’o as an assistant coach before being dismissed at the close of the 2024 season and subsequently replaced by Maguire, who adhered to the previously made arrangement.
Now, it seems Walters may have the upper hand over the man who took his place in the Broncos coaching role, provided Te’o is willing to join the Kangaroos.
Maguire and Te’o have a history that stretches back to their time at South Sydney, where they celebrated a premiership together in 2014 as coach and player.
Compiled by SportArena.au
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