Brisbane Broncos coach Kevin Walters confident his team can end Penrith’s dominance

Brisbane coach Kevin Walters doesn’t want to appear arrogant, but nor will he undersell just how well the 2023 Broncos are going ahead of the finals.

Brisbane coach Kevin Walters rates his team the best in the NRL. Picture: Adam Head

Broncos coach Kevin Walters says star duo Adam Reynolds and Pat Carrigan will be fit for the finals as he turned up the heat on premiers Penrith by boldly declaring Brisbane are the best team in the NRL.

The Broncos are hellbent on destroying Penrith’s premiership dynasty with Walters adamant he is in charge of the kingpins of the NRL ahead of Brisbane’s final-round showdown with Melbourne at Suncorp Stadium.

Walters’ ‘Kev-olution’ is on the cusp of a special milestone, with his class of 2023 eyeing a record 19th regular-season victory if Brisbane can overcome the resting of 11 stars to beat the Storm.

Four teams in Brisbane’s 35-year history have won 18 regular-season games – the squads of 1992, 1998, 2000 and 2011 – and three of those (1992, 1998 and 2000) ominously went on to win the title.

But Walters’ troops will be in a league of their own if they dispose of Craig Bellamy’s Storm to make it Sweet Nineteen for the first time in Brisbane’s decorated history.

Brisbane coach Kevin Walters rates his team the best in the NRL. Picture: Adam Head

That statistic alone is evidence of Brisbane’s dominance this season, with Walters, a six-time premiership winner as a player, confident the Broncos have the weapons to deny Penrith a hat-trick of titles.

Ladder leaders the Broncos (42 competition points) will wrap up their first minor premiership in 23 years by beating the Storm.

“The minor premiership is important and it acknowledges that you are the best,” Walters said.

“Without being arrogant, we have been the best team.

“I feel over the season we have been the most consistent performer and that’s been proven by where we are on the table.

“It (Brisbane’s quest for a history-making 19th win) is also a testament to our depth as well.

“It’s been challenged at different times through Origin and injuries and the like, but I am really proud of the players and all of the coaching staff to get us where we are.

“We are all really humble but hungry to get more success here this year.

“If we can win 19 games, that will be an outstanding performance, but there are bigger things to happen than winning 19 games.”

Fullback Reece Walsh (R) is arguably the best in his position right now. Picture: Getty Images

The ultimate prize is Brisbane’s seventh premiership and Walters, who captained the Broncos to the 2000 NRL trophy, says he won’t be satisfied until he snaps the club’s 17-year title drought.

In a massive boost for the Broncos, Walters confirmed Reynolds (calf) and Carrigan (foot) will be available for selection for the first week of the finals.

The injured duo are among a raft of top-liners who will be spectators for the Storm clash, alongside superstar fullback Reece Walsh, Selwyn Cobbo, Herbie Farnworth, Ezra Mam, Payne Haas and the suspended Kotoni Staggs.

“They (Reynolds and Carrigan) would have been right this week if it was a finals game. I have no concerns there,” he said.

“This is a really important game for us. We have set some high standards and I expect those standards to be maintained regardless of who is out (against the Storm).

“We only made the decision (to rest their stars) after we beat the Raiders on the weekend which secured two home finals for us.

“Then it was a decision around who to rest and I believe we have got it right.”

Skipper Adam Reynolds (R) will be rested again this week. Picture: Getty Images

The Broncos were a club in crisis just three years ago after finishing with the wooden spoon under Anthony Seibold, but his coaching successor Walters always believed he could rebuild Brisbane as a title force.

Now he wants to go for the jugular and bring a premiership to Red Hill.

“It would be fantastic (to win the title), that’s what every coach sits down at the start of the year and has those dreams,” he said.

“You have to have big dreams and we dream big here. That opportunity is still in front of us so we’ll keep going and that’s the ultimate goal for sure.

“Without being arrogant, I knew we would get there if we took the right steps and we’ve done that.

“But we’re not where we want to be. Sure, we are the top half of the ladder and doing well, but this club is about winning trophies. That’s what I’m about and that’s what this club is about. That’s the mantra.

“A lot of our guys haven’t played finals, but this game is a great opportunity for us as a club to show who we are and what we stand for.

“We’re about to find out how we go.”

Originally published as Brisbane Broncos coach Kevin Walters confident his team can end Penrith’s dominance