Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters has revealed he wants to land former Broncos assistant Ben Te’o for his staff ahead of this year’s Rugby League World Cup.
Te’o quit the Broncos last month after a falling out with Michael Maguire, just months after they helped the club snap a 19-year premiership drought.
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The former Rabbitohs premiership winner had been linked with Billy Slater’s Maroons coaching staff both prior to and after his exit from Red Hill.
The 39-year-old told Triple M’s Saturday Scrum that he had not engaged in formal talks about working during this year’s State of Origin series.
“No conversations as yet. Obviously I’m a free agent at the moment,” Te’o said.
“I’m sure those type of conversations will happen over the next few months.”
While nothing has happened on the coaching front just yet for Te’o, it could come soon.
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During an appearance on Wide World Of Sports’ QLDER this week, Walters was quizzed about whether he wanted Te’o on the Australian staff and made his feelings clear.
“He’s certainly in my sights,” Walters said.
“I’d like to have him on the staff, he’s a very good young coach. I like his personality as well, he’s not too heated and he’s very calm around situations from what I’ve seen.
“He would be a good addition to the group if we can make that happen.”
Te’o would be a quality addition to the Kangaroos set-up if Walters can get it over the line, in what looms as the green and gold’s toughest World Cup test since 2008.
It would also add an extra layer to the never-ending soap opera surrounding Brisbane.
Walters was the man who signed Te’o as an assistant coach prior to being sacked at the end of 2024 and was replaced by Maguire, who honoured the existing deal.
Now, it appears as though Walters will get one back over the man who replaced him in the Broncos hot seat, provided Te’o is open to committing to the Kangaroos.
Maguire and Te’o had a relationship dating back to their time at South Sydney when they won a premiership together in 2014 as coach and player.
