Kevin Walters in eye-opening move on live TV amid links to replace NRL coach
Kevin Walters insists he wants to coach again in the NRL but has refused to address speculation he's in line to replace Des Hasler at the Titans after describing it as "disrespectful" to the veteran coach. Hasler's job at the Gold Coast is under fire after a poor start to the season that sees the Titans sitting 16th on the ladder after just two wins in eight games.
It's now emerged that the under-siege coach has a number of performance-related clauses in his contract that could see the Titans axe Hasler without needing to pay him out, if the veteran mentor cannot turn things around. News Corp reports that Hasler faces the axe if Gold Coast don't make the top-eight and play finals footy this season.
The Daily Telegraph's Michael Carayannis says the clauses also state that if Gold Coast are mathematically out of finals contention later in the season, then the Titans can decide to part ways with the veteran coach then and there. 'He originally signed a three-year deal but there's clauses in his deal and one of those is a top-eight clause,' Carayannis said.
'That is if they don't make the top eight this year, the Titans are under no obligation to keep him at the club next yet. There's another element to it and that's if when they are mathematically no chance of playing finals footy, they can split immediately."
With 14 wins generally accepted as the number necessary to play finals footy in most years, it means Hasler's Titans would have to win 12 of their remaining 14 games this season for his job to be safe. The Titans have been hurt by a number of injuries to key players already this season, with Kiwi Test fullback Keano Kini the biggest blow after being ruled out for the season.
Former rep forward David Fifita has also experienced complications from pre-season ankle surgery that's set to keep him sidelined for an extended period. The underwhelming form of the rampaging back-rower has been a major issue for Hasler in 2025 and so too has the defence of the Titans, whose 250 points conceded is the second-worst behind only the bottom-placed Eels.
As a consequence, Hasler's job has come under massive scrutiny, amid reports Walters is being lined up as a potential candidate to replace the Gold Coast coach. Walters was controversially axed as coach of the Broncos after failing to make the finals last year, despite leading them to the grand final the year before.
Walters has since moved into a media role with Fox League as one of the expert analysts on their league coverage but he's made it clear he'd love to return to an NRL head coaching job in the future. And according to The Courier Mail, Fox Sports bosses won't stand in his way if Walters has an NRL coaching job lined up.
But Walters has refused to add credence to reports he's being lined up to replace Hasler at the Titans after throwing his support behind the embattled coach. 'I've always said that I want to coach again at some stage but I think it's a bit disrespectful to Des and the Titans,' Walters said.
'We're into Round 10, I think Des has got a job to do there. Sure some things haven't gone right for them this year but I'm sure he can turn it around and the Titans can turn it around. Do I want to coach again? Yes, I've said that openly lots of times. But when the time is right and the team is right so now I just feel like it's just a bit disrespectful to be speaking about a coach that… and I've walked in Des' shoes as a coach.
Gold Coast missed the finals last year after finishing 14th in Hasler's first season as head coach, although they were missing their captain and best player Tino Fa'asuamaleaui all season. Barring a miraculous turnaround in 2025, the Titans are set to miss out on the top-eight again.
But Walters says he feels for two-time premiership winning coach Hasler, and says he's earned the right to be afforded more time with the club. 'I think that Des more than anyone needs the respect that he needs to be given... he's only 12 months into the job," Walters added. "I feel like people in the game are pulling the trigger pretty early.'
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