NRL 2021: Broncos coach Kevin Walters hits back at Storm rival Craig Bellamy over Xavier Coates

The Storm and Broncos were at war last season over CEO Dave Donaghy. Now there is tension again with the Broncos ruling out a transfer for out-of-favour Storm-bound winger Xavier Coates.

Kevin Walters insists Xavier Coates is still part of the broncos’ plans this season. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

A war of words has broken out between Kevin Walters and Craig Bellamy, with the Broncos coach hitting back at Melbourne’s claim that Xavier Coates’ axing at Brisbane could affect his mental welfare.

Coates has signed with the Storm for next season and the Broncos winger’s immediate future at Red Hill is in limbo following his mysterious dumping for Saturday night’s clash against the Panthers at Suncorp Stadium.

Rested last week following Origin III duties, Coates has been overlooked for the Panthers clash despite being fully fit, fuelling suggestions Walters is planning for the future without the Melbourne-bound flyer.

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News Corp understands the Storm looked into the possibility of securing Coates before the NRL’s August 2 transfer deadline to help the Maroons young gun settle into Melbourne before his planned club debut next year.

Storm coach Bellamy says Brisbane’s treatment of Coates is a “bit harsh”, but Walters dismissed an early release for the 20-year-old, insisting he remains in the Broncos’ selection frame.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy (left) has questioned Brisbane’s handling of Xavier Coates under Broncos mentor Kevin Walters, his former assistant.

“Certainly Xavier hasn’t played his last game for the Broncos,” Walters said.

“We hold him in high regard here, he is a good young player but I just feel we need some stability the last few weeks so that’s why we have rested him. But I’m sure he will get a game again for the Broncos in the near future.

“We love what he brings — he is a great personality and also a great footballer.”

The Storm rate Coates so highly they have signed him to replace Canterbury-bound Josh Addo-Carr next season and Bellamy has been surprised by Brisbane’s demotion of the PNG international.

“I don’t know if the Broncos have put a line through him or not,” Bellamy said. “It’s up to the Broncos and what they want to do.

“He’s a contracted player with the club there, so if they don’t want to play him, they’re well within their rights there.

Melbourne signing Xavier Coates has been mysteriously axed from the Broncos just two weeks after playing for Queensland in Origin III.

“But it seems a bit harsh and I’m not quite sure what that does to Xavier’s mental wellbeing if he’s fit to play and he’s not playing.

“At the end of the day that’s the Broncos’ decision and they’ll do what they think is right for them.”

Walters scoffed at Bellamy’s assessment, insisting the Broncos have no plans to release Coates, one of the fastest men in the NRL who has scored 14 tries in 28 games for Brisbane.

“No, not at all,” Walters said of a possible Storm transfer. “Xavier is obviously disappointed about not playing and I can understand that.

“But there is still seven games to go and we want to finish the season on a positive and Xavier can play a role in that. That’s how I feel about the situation.

“We believe that Xavier can contribute to the Broncos in the last seven weeks at the club. We need his services for the rest of the season.”

In other selection news, Walters has made one change to his 17-man squad for the Panthers clash with Ethan Bullemor coming onto the bench for rookie forward TC Robati, who suffered a corked leg in last week’s heavy loss to the Tigers.

“TC is just not quite right so we’ll give ‘Bully’ an opportunity, he seems to play well against the Panthers,” Walters said.

Originally published as NRL 2021: Broncos coach Kevin Walters hits back at Storm rival Craig Bellamy over Xavier Coates