Allan Langer and Kevin Walters suffer new blow amid tumultuous time for Broncos legends

Former Brisbane coach Kevin Walters and Broncos assistant Allan Langer have been dealt another blow after the race horse they part-own failed to place at Eagle Farm on Saturday. It's been a turbulent month for the Broncos greats after Walters was sacked as Brisbane coach and replaced by former NSW coach Michael Maguire, leaving Langer's role as assistant up in the air.

The NRL greats would have been hoping to have something to celebrate in the QTIS 3YO Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday, where their horse Six More Songs was racing. The filly is trained by die-hard Broncos fan Tony Gollan and was named after Langer's now famous “six more songs” chant that he led at the Caxton Hotel after Queensland's State of Origin victory last year.

Gollan also played rugby league at a fairly high level and said before the race that he wanted the horse to win for Walters and Langer after what has been a tough month. “Hopefully I can give them a reason to smile," Gollan said. “She has a lovely pedigree and I reckon she will be a really nice filly.”

Unfortunately for Walters and Langer though it was yet more disappointment as Six More Songs failed to place after finishing fourth behind Hella Fast, Street Chase and Zatanna. The filly - which was purchased by fellow Broncos fanatics Troy Harry and Winx’s owner Peter Tighe - also has a number of former Brisbane players as part of its ownership group. The horse won at Ipswich last month right before Walters learnt he'd been sacked by the Broncos.

That came after an independent review into the club's underwhelming 2024 season that saw them go from grand finalists the previous year to finishing 12th and missing out on the finals. Many Broncos greats such as Gorden Tallis were filthy about Walters' sacking and his treatment from the club's board, insisting he had earned the right to try and turn things around in 2025.

Kevin Walters declines invitation to attend Broncos event

Walters was a glaring absentee at the Broncos' presentation night last Thursday as he and wife Narelle declined an invitation to attend the function due to recent events. Despite being sacked after four years as head coach at Brisbane, Walters has been offered an 'ambassador' role at the Broncos and club officials had hoped he would attend the end-of-season event, which was also a farewell for Corey Oates.

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Club officials insist there's no bad blood with Walters but his absence from the awards night - where Patrick Carrigan was presented with the Broncos' player of the year award - showed he's not yet ready to return and face the players. And his sacking has also cast doubts over the future of Brisbane assistant and club legend Langer, who's been on Walters' coaching staff since he took over in 2020.

Walters and Langer go back a long way in Broncos colours, having won four premierships together in the 1990s during their playing days. Both are proud Queenslanders who have represented their state and the Broncos with pride throughout their careers and Langer's loyalty to Walters has some former Broncos players concerned the club icon could opt to walk away from his role.

Maguire has indicated he's keen to speak with some of the Brisbane old boys who've been critical of his appointment but the new coach has already been rejected by Tallis in that regard. And if Langer were to walk away from his role at the club it would leave Maguire with an even greater task of trying to rally the Broncos' old boys behind him, as well as a significant hole that needs filling on his coaching staff.