St Helens have confirmed that they will bring Australia’s national team coach, Kevin Walters, to the club as head coach on a three‑year contract that begins with the 2027 Super League season. Walters, who has been at the helm of the Kangaroos, led the Australian side to a clean 3‑0 victory over England in the most recent Ashes series held last autumn.
Before taking on the international role, he spent several seasons guiding the Brisbane Broncos, steering them to the NRL Grand Final in 2023, and has also served as Queensland’s State of Origin coach. Walters is no stranger to the British game, having previously held a short‑term position in the Super League with the Catalans Dragons during the 2009‑2010 seasons.
The appointment will take effect after the Rugby League World Cup concludes later this year, allowing Walters to finish his commitments with the Australian side before moving to England. Australian media reports suggest that the agreement represents the most lucrative coaching contract in the 153‑year history of St Helens, underscoring the club’s ambition to return to the top of the league. St Helens have endured a turbulent 2026 campaign. Head coach Paul Rowley was dismissed after just 17 games, and interim coach Eamonn O'Carroll has been steering the side through a challenging period as the club fights to avoid missing the playoffs for the first time in its storied existence.
The new deal with Walters signals a decisive shift in direction and a clear statement of intent from the club’s hierarchy. When asked about his new role, Walters said, "St Helens are one of the most iconic and successful brands in rugby league. I am honoured to be given the opportunity by the Chairman, Eamonn McManus, and the St Helens Board to lead a club with so much history. I look forward to bringing my experiences as a Coach and blending those learnings into the winning culture of St Helens.
For me, the foundation of success is creating the right environment where the players and staff enjoy coming to training and working hard for each other, as well as the Saints sponsors, fans and the wider community. At the end of last year, I was in England for the Ashes Series as the Kangaroos Head Coach. I witnessed first‑hand how tough, physical, and skilful the English players were.
I look forward to being a part of Super League in 2027 with the Saints." Chairman Eamonn McManus echoed the sentiment, adding, "Kevin's vast experience at both club and representative levels is self‑evident. His motivation to succeed with the task at hand was both clear and compelling to us, as shown by the major career sacrifices that he is making in Australia to join St Helens. This is a major statement of ambition both by St. Helens and by Super League.
We would like to place on record our thanks to the understanding and professionalism of Peter V'Landys and the ARL Commission in facilitating Kevin's move to us. Eamonn O'Carroll will continue as our interim head coach until the end of this season.
He has been magnificent for us under testing circumstances, and I am sure that our fans will remain firmly behind him and the team." Walters’ track record suggests he could be the catalyst St Helens need to restore their dominance. His tenure with the Kangaroos demonstrated an ability to manage elite talent, instill discipline, and adapt tactics to different opposition styles. At Brisbane, he was praised for developing young players while extracting peak performance from seasoned veterans, a balance that aligns with St Helens’ mix of established stars and emerging prospects.
The move also reflects broader trends in the Super League, where clubs are increasingly looking overseas for high‑profile coaches to elevate the standard of play and attract global attention. By securing a coach of Walters’ calibre, St Helens not only aim to improve on‑field results but also to enhance their commercial appeal, fan engagement, and long‑term sustainability.
In the meantime, the Saints will continue under O'Carroll’s guidance for the remainder of the 2026 season, with the expectation that he will maintain stability while the squad prepares for the transition. Supporters can look forward to a period of rebuilding and strategic planning, with the promise that a fresh, internationally‑experienced perspective will be at the helm from 2027 onward. Overall, the appointment of Kevin Walters marks a pivotal moment for St Helens, marrying the club’s historic prestige with a forward‑looking vision that could reshape the competitive landscape of the Super League for years to come.