Brisbane Broncos coach Kevin Walters has fought back tears while opening up about the ordeal his family went through as his first wife died from cancer.
Walters, who played 242 games for Brisbane during his career and winning four premierships before turning his hand to coaching, recently appeared on an episode of Fox League’s Face to Face.
In a wide-ranging conversation with Yvonne Sampson, the 56-year-old spoke about growing up, playing rugby league and his first wife Kim sadly passing away in 1998.
Kim Walters was the mum of Kevin’s first three children – and died after a two-year battle with breast cancer.
‘It was a terrible time in our lives,’ said Walters.
‘I guess there’s lots of people, since I’ve been through that myself and my family [that can relate].
‘I was very thankful and grateful for my family support from my brothers, particularly mum and dad, they moved into the house when Kim got really crook. They were just a tower of strength for me and my kids.
‘I guess I just wanted to be the best person I could for Kim and my kids. I just wanted to get on with life and block out what was actually happening and do my best for Kim and make her last period in this world as comfortable as this could be.
‘Christmas Day we dragged her up to hospital and she never came home after that. It was pretty ordinary.’
Walters still honours Kim’s memory every year on Christmas Day and is determined to make it a happy event.
‘I always want to have nice Christmases now, where it’s fun, it’s exciting, it’s not the other side that we’ve been through as well,’ he said while choking back tears.
A few months after Kim’s death Kevin played the match of his life in Game 1 of State of Origin to get the win over NSW.
Walters believes he had ‘help from above’ that night.
