Walters next in Bellamy dynasty - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Walters next in Bellamy dynasty

David Beniuk 16/04/2011 01:01:24 PM Comments (0)

The influx of Melbourne boss Craig Bellamy's understudies into the top jobs at NRL clubs shows no sign of slowing with current Storm assistant Kevin Walters declaring himself a career coach.

Walters linked with Bellamy this season after becoming the head coach at Super League club Catalans Dragons in 2009, when he took the France-based club to within one game of the grand final.

The 43-year-old had previously done stints at Queensland clubs Toowoomba and Ipswich, and worked with Wayne Bennett at Brisbane before he was part of a coaching cleanout in 2005.

Walters, whose family is still based in Brisbane, said he envisages himself staying in the coaching game long-term.

"Yeah, I think so. I enjoy rugby league and coaching is a good avenue for me to stay involved in the game," Walters told AAP on Saturday.

"I've been at it a while now, I've been coaching for 10 years in one capacity or another so it's all good experience."

Walters' comments came as South Sydney were confirming former Bellamy assistant Michael Maguire as their coach for three seasons from 2012.

Another former Bellamy offsider, Stephen Kearney, took the reins at Parramatta this season.

The former Test five-eighth will be at Centrebet Stadium on Sunday when the Storm attempt to extend a seven-match winning streak over Penrith.

The Panthers haven't tasted victory over Melbourne since 2005 and few are giving them much hope this time after a spluttering start to their season.

They went some way to getting it on track last weekend with a 36-10 drubbing of Canberra, but the Storm were even better in demolishing Parramatta 38-0.

"We've been OK but without getting too carried away and our last trip away (a 34-6 thrashing by North Queensland) wasn't too good, so we haven't won away from home this year," Walters said.

"We'll just need to get up there and settle well and then get into the game.

"It's going to be one of those matches, very physical I'dimagine with Penrith, the way they play, so our guys have got to be ready for that."

The Storm have caused their opponents headaches with their speed and precision around the ruck this season, boasting the most number of breaks from dummy half in the league, and that could pose a danger to the big Panthers pack.

"Cameron (Smith) obviously plays a big part in (our forwards') momentum with their carries but they've still got to run very hard," Walters said.

"Cameron's obviously the key to a lot of that with us but he's got to pass it to someone, he can't do it all by himself and that's where we've been pretty good this year."

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