Thurston, Slater among Queensland coaching staff

Kevin Walters has a lot of support from Queensland's biggest names to his 2019 support staff.

Queensland coach Kevin Walters has a long history of Trevor Gillmeister and hiring some of the Maroons' biggest names.

Gillmeister was the highest-profile casualty in sweeping staff changes for the 2019 Maroons, with Justin Hodges, Petero Civoniceva, Johnathan Thurston and Billy Slater.

Walters also dropped badistant Josh Hannay and long-time trainer Tony Spencer.

Hodges replaces Hannay as Maroons badistant and Civoniceva is the new team manager while Thurston and Slater will be at Maroons camps throughout the series.

Melbourne Storm's Matthew Barradeen replaces Spencer as the new trainer.

Walters said it was needed in a new direction in 2019 as Queensland.

"Trevor Gillmeister is a Queensland legend and has worked tirelessly with the team for nearly 20 years as a trainer," Walters said of his staff changes.

"They have been great servants, but I just felt that the time was right to get in touch with the next generation of players."

Walters is focusing on the fourth season Queensland coach after missing out on the Brisbane NRL coaching job.

Walters admitted last week that he was crestfallen to be overlooked for the Broncos gig after the NRL club opted for South Sydney's Anthony Seibold to succeed Wayne Bennett.