Kevvie up for testing Origin
KEVIN Walters has opened up on the huge task that lies ahead for Queensland on Wednesday night, calling it the biggest challenge of his 16-year coaching career.
The Maroons will arrive in Sydney today, faced with the possibility that their State of Origin hopes and dreams could be shattered at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday night.
After losing the series opener last month, Queensland must save the series in front of a Sydney crowd.
For Walters, who took on the job as Queensland mentor last year to immediate success, this was like nothing he had faced in his coaching career.
Walters said when he signed his three-year deal to take over from Mal Meninga last year, he knew that he would have to be the man who oversaw the team’s transition period.
With the likes of Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith approaching retirement, and Corey Parker finishing up last season, the time was always going to come for new faces in the side.
Walters never knew it would approach this quickly, as injuries to Matt Scott and Greg Inglis, plus the axings of veterans Nate Myles, Sam Thaiday, Jacob Lillyman and Aidan Guerra, forced the introduction of four debutants for Game Two.
“It’s the biggest challenge for sure,” Walter said.
“I knew that when I took the role on that at some stage in my three-year tenure we were going to lose Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk, Johnathan Thurston ... I didn’t know we were going to lose Greg Inglis. There was always going to be a change and that change is on us now.
“It hasn’t been easy. But I am thrilled by the challenge that Game Two provides.”
Walters, who began his coaching career with the Toowoomba Clydesdales in 2001, had a dream introduction to Origin last year, with the Queensland team claiming the series in the first two matches.
This year has been a vastly different story, with southern media even suggesting that Walters is at jeopardy of losing his job if Queensland do not win on Wednesday.
“It’s been a totally different series to last year,” he said.
“Last year everything sort of fell into place.”