KEVIN Walters has declared he has no interest in coaching Gold Coast, but a left-field option has emerged among the contenders for the job.

Since Neil Henry was unceremoniously dumped by the club on Monday, speculation has been rife as to who will replace him as coach of the Titans.

Walters has generated the most noise and sits atop a lengthy list of candidates.

But he told Queenslanders Only on Wednesday night he has no intention of putting his hand up.

Round 20

There’s been a lot of speculation around the Titans job and particularly including myself, but I’m contracted next year with the Queensland Rugby League to be the Origin coach,” Walters said.

“I signed a three-year deal, and I haven’t had any talks with the Titans about the possibility of me going there and coaching, that’s just non-existent.

“The job doesn’t interest me because I’m currently contracted, and if I go outside those boundaries I put my position at the QRL in jeopardy, which I don’t want to do.

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Maroons coach Kevin Walters. Source: Getty Images

“I want to get into NRL coaching at some stage, but I just don’t think right now it’s appropriate to be talking about it.”

But another candidate has publicly revealed their interest in the job.

Queensland brothers Ben and Shane Walker have already approached the Titans to confirm their interest in the role.

The siblings have been coaching in the Queensland Cup and believe they are ready to make the step up to the NRL.

“We’d love that opportunity to coach the Titans, and I can officially confirm to you that yes, if the opportunity arises for us to take it then we’ll jump at it for sure,” Ben Walker told NRL 360.

“Clinton Schifcofske’s our manager than he’s had contact with the Titans just to inform them that we are interested and we’re not sitting on the sidelines just watching.

“He’s made it clear that we have every intention of applying and doing whatever the process is to get the job.”

Another man whose name has been thrown around is Penrith’s NSW Cup coach Garth Brennan.

But he would neither confirm or deny his interest.

“Out of respect to the Titans, I’m sure they’re going through a process, and to be honest my primary focus this time of year is to concentrate on Penrith,” Brennan told Channel Seven.

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GOULD’S BIG TAKE ON TITANS

Forget moving the coach, Gold Coast should pack up and move to Brisbane.

That’s the opinion of rugby league guru Phil Gould, who also believes Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga would be the perfect man to lead the rebuild of the struggling NRL club.

The two-time premiership-winning coach suggested Meninga should be handed the reins of a football program and guide a rookie NRL mentor such as Kevin Walters or Adrian Lam.

“Adrian’s like Kevin Walters, he’s always coveted an NRL coaching role. He’s had a few lower grade roles,” Gould said on his Six Tackles With Gus podcast.

“If Mal’s there, it doesn’t matter who then coaches the side, because they’ll have a coaching team and Mal will oversee the team, as he did with the Queensland team for many years.”

Gould said the Titans needed a head of football with football experience and profile.

“Mal Meninga would be a perfect figurehead for that club, both corporately, community-wise, junior development-wise, and lending assistance and profile to the coaching program,” he said.

“He would also be a wonderful marketing tool and an asset for recruitment of young and even established players, knowing you’re going to play for the club where the Australian coach is.”

Ben Ikin, Nathan Ryan and Ben Glover discuss the problems facing the Titans, Broncos succession planning and Souths turning the corner.

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TIGER’S TOUGH SEASON

It’s been a roller coaster season for new Wests Tigers playmaker Tuimoala Lolohea who revealed he turned to alcohol to “drown his sorrows” while at the Warriors earlier in the year.

Lolohea made the move across the Tasman mid-season after finding himself in reserve grade early on in the year.

“I had enough of playing on the wing. I never played on the wing growing up but they chucked me on the wing and first grade and had to stay there. I got the opportunity here to get more involved here and I feel like I’m playing some good footy,” Lolohea told Fairfax Media.

“I was overweight. I was unhappy. I was struggling. Playing reserve grade on the wing probably didn’t help. I was off it a little bit. I’ve lost six kilograms since coming here and each week I’m feeling better on the field. In the first month at the Tigers I was struggling and my weight had a lot to do with it.”

WARRIORS IN LIMBO

The Warriors are on the hunt for another potential buyer after Auckland businessman Paul Davys abandoned plans to buy the NRL club.

The NZ Herald reports Davy’s $15 million bid was rejected by current owner Eric Watson who wants $20 million for the club which he has part owned since 2000.

“I have withdrawn my interest due to a confusing sale process,” Davys said in a text message to the Herald.

“I was given every indication that my offer was accepted subject to me completing due diligence which is a normal process when an offer is accepted.

“This week, I find out that the sale is being handled more like a tender. I was advised this week that I needed to complete my due diligence then submit an offer for Eric to consider.

“This to me is back to front and time delaying.”

PENRITH’S NEW WADE GRAHAM

Penrith may have found the club’s next Wade Graham, according to young halfback Nathan Cleary.

The emergence of rookie playmaker Tyrone May has shocked many fans, as he’s filled in when captain Matt Moylan has been injured.

And while he’s been killing it in the halves, Cleary can see his young teammate filling another role for the team.

“There’s a lot of talk about that, but I reckon he’d do a good job at backrow. He’d probably turn into a Wade Graham-type as he develops,” Cleary said.

“But at the moment he’s doing a job anywhere and he’s just a good asset to the team.”

AUSTIN TAKES DOWN RAIDERS FAN

Canberra five-eighth Blake Austin has taken a swipe at the Raiders fan who spat at referee Ashley Klein at the weekend.

The fan was suspended from games for 12 months and had his membership cancelled.

“I think everyone needs to respect the referees a little more. We can’t have games of footy without them,” Austin told the Canberra Times.

“At the end of the day there’s two teams going to battle and whatever calls go against you you’re probably not going to be happy with.

“But that act is certainly not on and that’s someone’s father and someone’s son.

PANTHER MOVES ON

Penrith player Sitaleki Akauola will head overseas after this season to join Super League club Warrington.

Akauola’s move to the Wolves was confirmed by the club on Wednesday night.

Former Panthers teammate Peta Hiku helped lure him to the Super League.