Kevin Walters: Australia boss buzzing for Ashes revival against England

It was something special for a young Kevin Walters, being woken up in the small hours to crowd around the family television set to watch Australia’s rugby league team battling away on some far-flung field in England.

That lad from the Queensland town of Ipswich, stirred from sleep, learned of the rivalry first-hand, witnessing the rich colour of the green and gold shirts on the screen as they ran, passed, tackled and kicked against the ferocious ‘Poms’.

Walters, along with brothers Kerrod and Steve, would go on to live out those childhood dreams and become one of those heroes, as a Kangaroos tourist in the ‘Old Dart’ as a player.

Now, he gets the chance to lead Australia out as head coach, having replaced former Test team-mate Mal Meninga. He always coveted this job.

And, not only that, in an Ashes series too. Perfection for a rugby league nut.

“It is a world game and we are taking the Kangaroos to England for an Ashes battle, which hasn’t happened for a long time,” Walters told BBC Sport.

“So that part of it excites me as well, where we take on the English on foreign soil. It’s a big challenge for us, but one that, you know, I and the rest of the staff and all the players that I’ve spoken to so far are very much something forward to.”