Broncos coach Kevin Walters chokes back tears as he opens up about how he and his kids dealt with his wife’s death from cancer: ‘We took her to hospital on Christmas Day’

• Walters became emotional while talking about wife’s death
• First wife Kim passed away in 1998 after battling cancer 

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.

Before deciding to pursue a career in coaching, Walters played 242 games for Brisbane and won four premierships. He most recently made an appearance on an edition of Fox League’s Face to Face. The 56-year-old talked about growing up, playing rugby league, and his first wife Kim’s tragic death in 1998 in a lengthy interview with Yvonne Sampson.

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.

Coughing back tears, he remarked, “I always want to have nice Christmases

now, where it’s fun, it’s exciting, and it’s not the other side that we’ve been

through as well.” Kevin had the game of his life in Game 1 of the State of Origin,

winning against NSW, a few months after Kim passed away.

Walters believes he had ‘help from above’ that night.