In a gripping edition of Fox League’s Face to Face, Brisbane Broncos coach Kevin Walters talked candidly about his relationship with NSW great Tommy Raudonikis, his family, and some amusing stories about Alfie Langer.
Walters told Yvonne Sampson about how his family watched the legendary Arthur Beetson go wild at Laing Park during the inaugural State of Origin game.
“We were no chance of getting tickets,” Walters stated. With a pair of pliers in hand, (dad) made a hole in the fence. Together with perhaps ten thousand other Queenslanders, we all just climbed through. It was during the full day!
Something else that stuck with me was being there when Arthur Beetson bolted out. He continued, “I can still see it and hear the Queenslanders’ noise.
“I was just thirteen years old. All I can recall is how passionate he was about NSW. They all believed he was too elderly. With an intensity that no one had ever seen coming from Queensland, he simply decimated New South Wales.
“I remember wanting to do that myself one day and remembering going home in the back seat of that yellow (Holden) Kingswood from that point on.”
He spent his childhood playing a lot of rugby league in the backyard with his four brothers and occasionally Alfie Langer.
“In the garden, we engaged in competition! The sin bucket was originally invented by mum. She used to haul out the hose and hose us down to cool us off if it got a little hot. Alright, time out here,’ she would remark. Until you play normally and don’t argue with each other, you aren’t playing.
Walters claims he wanted to be a carpenter like his father, but he wasn’t very good at it.
“My goal was to excel as a football player. My carpentry abilities were lacking. I used to be referred to as “lightning” on the construction site. “My hammer never struck the same spot twice, like lightning,” he chuckled.
Fortunately, he made the decision to play rugby league, and he went on to win six premierships before turning to coaching.
But he didn’t always have an easy time playing. Kim, his first wife, fought breast cancer for two years before passing away in 1998.
“It was a terrible time in our lives,” Walters disclosed. Since my family and I have experienced that, I suppose there are many more who can relate.
“I was quite appreciative of my brothers’ support, especially my parents, who moved into the house when Kim became a truly bad guy. For my children and me, they served as a fortress of strength.
“I suppose all I wanted was to give Kim and my kids the best of myself. I just wanted to go on, ignore what was truly going on, try my best to make Kim’s final moments on earth as comfortable as possible, and get on with my life.
“On Christmas Day, we hauled her to the hospital, and she never returned home.”
Together, the couple had three children, and Walters continues to celebrate her memory every Christmas Day.
“I always want to have nice Christmases now, where it’s exciting, fun, and it’s not about the other side that we’ve also had to deal with,” he continued.
And when it came to the miraculous play that completed the Game I State of Origin victory a few months later, Walters consistently claimed he had “help from above.”
Watch the entire Face to Face episode with Kevin Walters right now on Kayo and Fox League.
After being moved to the wing by St. George coach Shane Flanagan this season, Lomax expressed a desire to play in the centers or at fullback, and he was granted an early release from his Dragons contract.
Lomax is making a case to be chosen on the flank for the Blues in 2024, if anything, and this change has just spurred him to get better.
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At the Dragons, Lomax was expected to make $850,000 in 2025 and $875,000 in 2026. However, it is said that he took a big pay cut to join the Parramatta team for about $650,000 year.
The Eels announced the thrilling news for their club in a press release on Tuesday morning, capping weeks of conjecture.
According to the statement released by the club, Eels CEL Jim Sarantinos stated, “Zac is a great talent and we’re confident he will be an invaluable addition to our team.”
With nearly 100 NRL games under his belt since making his debut in 2018, he adds depth to our current playing group and will benefit the talented group of young players coming through our pathways program.
“Season 2024 is our priority right now, but we very much look forward to welcoming Zac and his family to our club in 2025.”
According to reports, the Eels are still eager to sign Lomax if they can afford it, but Flanagan has said that won’t be happening.
In an interview on NRL360 last night, Parramatta coach Brad Arthur did nothing to refute the rumours that the Eels will attempt to sign Lomax sooner.
“I’m not certain. I’ve left that to be handled by our recruitment team and (GM of Football) Mark O’Neill,” he remarked.
May stated via a statement released by the club, “I’m really happy to have my future sorted with the Roosters.”
“I’m thankful for the chance to represent the Red, White, and Blue for another two years. I love being a part of the team here.”
Although Tyrone, Taylan, and Terrell have all voiced a great desire to play together someday, the prospect has been temporarily shelved when Taylan signed a contract extension with Penrith last month.
