Overview

• The NRL rejected Kevin Walters’ bid to appoint Gorden Tallis as a cultural figurehead but is now considering him for a formal assistant role, with announcements expected this week.
• Tallis holds a non-coaching ambassador position with the Titans, which keeps him eligible under the policy, and his last coaching stint was a defensive consultancy at South Sydney nearly a decade ago.
• Walters’ initial targets from the Broncos staff, Trent Barrett and Ben Te’o, were ruled out because the directive bars assistants with active NRL club roles.
• Incumbent Kangaroos assistants Brett White and Justin Holbrook are set to depart due to the same rule that blocks national staff from holding club posts.
• Walters is consulting Super League coaches Brad Arthur, John Cartwright and Willie Peters for English-game insights, confirming recent discussions with Cartwright and plans to contact Arthur.