Kevin Walters job, Broncos coach confident of avoiding axe

Kevin Walters is starting to feel the heat amid a horror losing streak, and the Broncos-Bulldogs clash could have the coach fearing for his job.

A defiant Kevin Walters insists his job is safe at Red Hill as the Broncos coach fights to avoid the worst losing streak of his tenure in Friday night’s must-win clash against the Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium.

Pressure is building on Walters to stop the rot at the Broncos, who have plunged to third last following four consecutive losses that have taken the gloss off Brisbane’s flying 2-0 start to the season.

Brisbane twice lost four games in a row during Walters’ rookie season in charge last year, but a fifth successive defeat this week against the battling Bulldogs would represent a new low for the Broncos coach.

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Broncos coach Kevin Walters has come under fire for Brisbane’s poor performances this year. Picture: Getty

Walters has come under fire in recent weeks amid speculation the Broncos coach is among a number of NRL mentors, including Wests Tigers’ Michael Maguire and Bulldogs rival Trent Barrett, who may not survive beyond this season.

The Broncos last month handed Walters an extension for the 2023 season, but coaching contracts in the NRL are notoriously fickle, as Anthony Seibold found out when he departed Brisbane just two seasons into a five-year deal.

Walters has won nine of 30 games at the Broncos for a 30 per cent success rate.

Never in Brisbane’s decorated 34-year history has the club missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons, but Walters is adamant he has the skill set to reignite the Broncos as a premiership force.

“I’m not worried about my future,” Walters said on the eve of a crucial showdown with the last-placed Bulldogs.

“It (the speculation) is what it is. I am seeing improvement in the team and that’s all that I am looking for.

Walters runs the Broncos through their paces at training this week. Picture: Liam Kidston

“We are getting better and slowly building our game. It has been a slow process but I am content with where we are at.

“I don’t listen to the outside noise. I know I am doing a good job and I know I am a good coach.

“I believe in myself and our systems and we just have to stay in our lane. I know the path the Broncos are on.”

Walters is determined to emulate the evolution of Penrith, who finished 10th in 2019, but are now the reigning premiers and red-hot favourites to clinch back-to-back titles.

“Look at Penrith, it’s been a long journey for them to get to the top again,” Walters said.

“They went through a couple of coaches and they ended up going back to Ivan Cleary (who was sacked in 2015 before returning four years later).

“Now the results are coming for Penrith ... and they will come for us.”

Kevin Walters is drawing inspiration from Penrith’s rise from outside the eight to the competition’s powerhouse. Picture: Getty

Walters has been criticised for playing musical chairs with his halves. The Tyson Gamble-Adam Reynolds alliance against the Bulldogs will be Brisbane’s fourth scrumbase combination in seven games, but Walters defended the tweaking of his playmaking spine.

“Injuries and Covid have played a part, we’ve lost guys like Adam, Tesi (Niu) and Jake (Turpin), so a lot of it is out of our control,” he said.

“Penrith have had the same 17 for the last four weeks and you can build some combinations and teamwork around that, but for different reasons haven’t been able to do that with our halves.

“Tyson is looking forward to getting his opportunity (at five-eighth). Billy (Walters) has done a good job for us before coming off the bench so that’s the reason we have gone that way.

“The Dogs will be dangerous. We’re desperate not just for a win, but a good 80-minute performance.”

HOW MIRACLE BRONCO DELIVERED NRL’S GREATEST COMEBACK

By Peter Badel

The last time Te Maire Martin played the Bulldogs, he suffered the brain bleed that had seemingly ended his NRL career.

On Friday night, Martin will return to face Canterbury, declaring he can “do the job” as he embarks on his first NRL game in 1092 days in his Broncos debut against the Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium.

The Martin Miracle is one of rugby league’s most remarkable comeback stories.

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Te Maire Martin is on the verge of one of rugby league’s great comeback stories. Picture: Getty

When Martin left the field against the Bulldogs on April 26, 2019, his head throbbing, he was rocked by a brain-bleed diagnosis that saw him quit the NRL and return to New Zealand to rebuild his health and his life.

Fast forward three years and here he is, in Broncos colours, just four months after arriving at Red Hill, determined to bring down the Bulldogs outfit that will forever be an emotional link in his NRL journey.

“After so long out of the game, it’s great to be back again,” said Martin, who will start at fullback following a hamstring injury to Tesi Niu.

“I had a goal to play this year, but it was probably earlier than my goals expected.

“I just wanted to play consistent footy in the Queensland Cup and hopefully do well enough to make it back at the end of the year.

A hamstring injury to fullback Tesi Niu has given Martin his shot at an NRL comeback. Picture: NRL Images

“But with Tesi and David Mead out with injury, I’ve got an exemption from the NRL to play and I’m all excited now.

“I wouldn’t say I have been chucked in the deep end, the boys have faith in me to do the job and I believe I can do the job at fullback.”

The former Cowboys playmaker has experience in the backfield, having played 10 of his 55 NRL games at fullback.

Ironically, he last wore the No.1 jumper on that fateful day against the Bulldogs. Martin quickly vanished from the NRL. He never expected to return. He took up a job in New Zealand pushing sand, sitting in heavy machinery to rest his brain.

It was against the Bulldogs, in 2019, where Martin knew he had an issue. Picture: AAP

Now he is back, ready for fresh collisions with rivals in that blue-and-white Canterbury jumper.

“I remember that week,” he said of his last game against the Bulldogs.

“It was early on in the week and I had some headaches. Matt Scott (former Cowboys prop) had some headaches as well, so I asked him what he did and I took some painkillers.

“But my headache wouldn’t go away. In the warm-up against the Dogs, my head was crazy sore. Corey Harawira-Naera made a break, I couldn’t catch him, and it all went downhill from there.”

Back, and with a smile on his face, Martin will end a 1092-day NRL exile. Picture: Liam Kidston

Martin has since undergone more than 10 scans on his brain. Specialists have given Martin the green light and the 26-year-old is confident his body and mind is ready for the demands of fullback play.

“I was a bit uncertain on what the brain would do with the bleed, so it’s all a bit surreal with how quickly it (his Broncos comeback) has happened,” he said.

“I remember a Q Cup game recently, I got a late hit and it sounds weird, but I got excited from being smashed because everything felt good.

“From then on, I have got my natural game back and I’m running well again.

“It’s not too bad at fullback, it’s a bit less physical than being in the frontline and I enjoy the running at the back.

“Injuries happen in the NRL and whoever gets called up to the spot has to be ready ... I feel like I’m ready.”