Broncos boss makes call on Kevin Walters' job after disastrous season for NRL heavyweights

The Broncos CEO has thrown his supporter behind Kevin Walters as their coach after speculation mounted over the great's future at the club following a disastrous 2024 season. Walters has been under pressure in 2024 with the Broncos failing to reach the NRL finals for the third time in four years under his leadership as head coach.

Walters' men made the grand final last year, but sit in 12th place with one regular season game left in 2024. There is no hope of making the finals. The former Maroons coach first came under scrutiny this season for resting State of Origin representatives during a crucial clash against the Warriors, which they went on to lose.

And with their season on the line last week, the Broncos were handed a lesson in a humiliating 40-6 defeat to the Dolphins on Saturday. Despite their stellar 2023 campaign, Walters has failed to regularly deliver finals footy for the Broncos.

There have been question marks over whether Walters is the right man to lead the Broncos in the future after another underwhelming campaign with a talented roster. But on Wednesday, Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy put to bed any speculation surrounding the coach and said Walters was their long-term leader.

“Kev is the coach and he will remain the coach,” Broncos CEO Donaghy said to The Courier Mail. “It’s been a really disappointing year — everyone inside the club is feeling it and I’m sure our fans are, too." Donaghy stressed the Broncos are keen to get through the clash against the Storm on Friday night before conducting a review into the season to seek improvements.

While the Broncos have underperformed in 2024, Walters has also been dealing with a long-list of injuries throughout the season. Captain and playmaker Adam Reynolds was missing for a large portion, while both Reece Walsh and Payne Haas have missed a chunk towards the end of season.

Question marks remain over Kevin Walters

The Broncos CEO has backed Walters only a day after Broncos legend Gorden Tallis claimed the coach will find a way to turn the team back into premiership contenders. Tallis claimed Walters has proved to the doubters he belongs as the coach and he will see their support.

“I think he does have the support of the playing group and the people that I talk to above say that he is there next year,” Tallis said on NRL 360. “There’s no talk of them not wanting him as coach, they know there was injuries, they know they didn’t manage expectations.

“Let me let you in on a little secret, when they appointed him he had to go buy his own shirt and do his own press conference. “There’s been no support for him from day one from up above him, he’s always been there on his own. He got them to a grand final by himself so I trust him to dig them out."

NRL reporter Phil Rothfield was critical of the Broncos' performance last weekend and claimed if Walters can't turn around the club's fortunes early next year, he could face more pressure. Although he agreed Walters should be given time.

“That was a terrible, terrible capitulation on Saturday. They were deadset awful,” Rothfield said on the Big Sports Breakfast. “The fact he made the grand final last year and was within 17 minutes of winning a premiership secures his job right now. Any talk his job is in jeopardy is out of line.

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“I do think though, in the first 12 rounds of next season, with the roster he’s got, you look at that talent. Walsh, Staggs, Cobbo, Mam, Reynolds, Carrigan, Payne Haas. There’s no excuses for that football side not to be making the top eight. If we get halfway into next year and they are struggling like they did on Saturday, I think it will be time for the Broncos to act."

Adam Reynolds backs Kevin Walters as coach

Club captain Adam Reynolds also went public and backed Walters having claimed the coach was the one who brought him north to have a shot at a NRL title. "Kev has done a fantastic job leading this club and is the right man for that job... We believe in him," Reynolds said.

"We just need to get on board and follow the instructions from Kev. I have never seen anyone more passionate about the club and someone who loves the club and it has to rub off on the players."