KEVVIE UP FOR BOLD NEW DEAL

KEVIN Walters has backed himself to revive Brisbane as a premiership force after agreeing to a landmark new contract that gives the Broncos the power to sack him without facing a major financial hit.

It can be revealed Walters will be placed on a standard employment contract based strictly on performance – including lucrative incentives for on-field success.

As part of the deal, the club has given Walters the licence to go shopping and bolster his football department.

While NRL coaches have traditionally signed deals ranging from two to five years, Walters is happy to waive a fixed-contract period and will be judged solely on his week-to-week performance at the Broncos.

“I’m not expecting any favours from anyone here,” Walters said ahead of Brisbane’s official return to pre-season on Monday.

His original two-year contract, brokered in September 2020, will be rescinded. Instead, Walters will sign a revised open-ended employment contract, with no fixed term, under which he will be assessed like any other office employee at the Broncos.

The restructured deal will include performance bonuses for Walters should he steer the Broncos to the finals, the top four or the club’s first premiership in 15 years.

But there is no five-year buffer enjoyed by his predecessor Anthony Seibold, who subsequently received a $1.5m payout after parting ways with the Broncos just two seasons into his $3m-plus deal.

Walters’ management has been in negotiations with Broncos bosses in recent weeks to modify his employment terms.

Under the terms of the new employment contract, the Broncos must give Walters a period of notice, believed to be at least three months, should they wish to terminate the Brisbane legend.

There is a view the traditional coaching contract is heavily weighted against NRL clubs, who are regularly subjected to multimillion-dollar termination payouts.

The Broncos are also eager to avoid incessant media speculation over the future of Walters, who was originally off-contract during the 2022 premiership season.

The Broncos coach is confident he can deliver and says his best form of security is to win consistently in his quest to deliver Brisbane’s first premiership since 2006.

“I have to perform,” he said. “Every club has to get results and we’re no different.

“I’ve said for a while I want to be here long term and I intend to do that.

“But I’m not a fool either. I’m not kidding myself. It’s about getting results and I need to get results to stay in the role, which is pretty clear.”