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Will Walters be extended for next year's RL World Cup?
Nicholas Quinlan • November 24th, 2025 3:39 pm
Having won the Rugby League Ashes, both Michael Carayannis and Corey Parker are of the belief that Kevin Walters should remain as Kangaroos coach for next year's Rugby League World Cup.
Having taken up the job in July following Mal Meninga’s appointment as head coach of the Perth Bears, the former Brisbane Broncos player and coach managed to lead the national team to a whitewash in the Ashes series in England, winning all three games in comfortable fashion.
With no news about a potential extension of Walters’ contract, Carayannis is of the belief that the former Broncos’ coach would be hard-pressed not to be given an opportunity at a home World Cup.
“He doesn’t have a deal for next year yet,” he explained on SEN 1170’s Boys of Summer.
“It would be pretty hard pressed not to give him a contract off the back of winning the Ashes 3-nil.”
Walters’ case for being extended is also helped by a lack of contenders for the position.
“The only one that has been lurking has been Cameron Smith,” he added.
“Whether or not he would be willing to step up and do it.
“I think if Brad Fittler had the job and rejected it, I think Cameron Smith was next in line.”
Parker would add that he was initially surprised that he was only signed for the three matches and thinks that Walters has shown enough in those matches to have earned the opportunity.
“I was surprised by the fact that he only got a three-game coaching gig,” Parker said.
“If you’re going to back the guy, that (the initial contract) would suggest they weren’t 100% sure.
“Now that he has got that Ashes done, which I think always going to be the way, and whilst it was underwhelming at times, the reality was that they won 3-nil.
“I think he will probably get the gig moving forward.”
The 2026 Rugby League World Cup will begin on October 15 with New Zealand and Australia opening the tournament at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.
