Broncos captain Adam Reynolds denies players had hand in Kevin Walters’ axing

Broncos captain Adam Reynolds has launched a passionate defence of sacked coach Kevin Walters, believing the club mentor had the ability to end Brisbane’s premiership drought in 2025.

Adam Reynolds has defended Kevin Walters. Picture: Liam Kidston

Brisbane skipper Adam Reynolds has slammed suggestions Broncos players knifed Kevin Walters and believes the fallen coach deserved the chance to resurrect the club as a finals force next season.

In a wide-ranging interview, Reynolds opened up about his shock at Walters’ departure and is adamant the club legend had the ability to break Brisbane’s 19-year title drought in 2025.

Walters parted ways with the Broncos on Thursday night in a bombshell development few saw coming, including Reynolds and Brisbane players, who claimed they were “blindsided” by the coach’s immediate exit.

THE BOMBSHELL

Walters learned of his fate around 6pm on Thursday night following a comprehensive two-week review of the club. Just 24 hours earlier, Walters was seen in a happy mood dining at the China Sea restaurant in Milton with his new assistants Ben Te’o and Trent Barrett.

No-one saw the axe hovering, including Reynolds.

“Like everyone else in the playing group, I certainly didn’t see it coming,” he said.

“We had no idea. Players weren’t told. I guess things break pretty quick.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t get told as a playing group and most of us found out through the news, but I’ve since spoken to Dave (Donaghy, Broncos CEO) and he addressed the playing group and apologised for it coming out that way.

Adam Reynolds has defended Kevin Walters. Picture: Liam Kidston

“I’ve got a great relationship with Kev. I’m forever thankful for him giving me the opportunity to come up to this club.

“I loved being coached by him.”

Asked if he has spoken to Walters over the last 48 hours, Reynolds said: “Yeah, I’ve texted him. I had a little text back. I was sort of waiting for things to die down and I’ll give him a buzz and obviously check in and see how he’s going.

“He’s still going to be involved in the club, which is great. But no matter what happens, I hope he’s OK.”

RED HILL REDEMPTION

Despite Brisbane’s dramatic freefall to 12th place this season, the Broncos coach was hopeful of getting a chance to lead a grand final charge in 2025 - just as he did last year.

Walters had taken the Broncos from a wooden-spoon rabble to title contenders in just three years and Reynolds was confident the Brisbane coach would continue his ‘Kev-olution’ in 2025.

“It’s still a bit of a shock that he won’t be there next year,” Reynolds said.

“Kev’s done an awesome job, he took over a wooden spoon team and got us to the heights of making the grand final.

“Obviously the year that we’ve had isn’t his fault, it’s a number of things that went wrong, a lot of injuries and other things that were out of his control.

“From all understanding, I thought we’d reassess and see how we were going after 10 rounds next year.

“We got through the review and it pretty much was going to outline what was in store for pre-season from my understanding Kevvie would be there.

“It’s not ideal for us but we don’t make those decisions as players. That’s above us and obviously I’m very grateful for what Kev’s done for us.

“Unfortunately we couldn’t have a good season and just wish we could have done a bit more for him.”

THE PLAYERS

The contents of the review weren’t favourable for Walters and supporters of the Broncos coach have taken aim at Brisbane players for letting ‘Kevvie’ down.

There is a view the feedback from Brisbane’s playing group was a critical factor in Walters’ sacking, but Reynolds scoffed at suggestions the coach had lost the dressing room.

“No, I don’t agree with that,” Reynolds said.

“I can’t see a reason why they’d be off Kev.”

Asked if Walters was knifed by players in the review, the captain said: “I’d be very surprised if that was the case.

“We wouldn’t be in the position we are today, with the quality in the football side we have, unless Kev was there.

Brisbane had a disappointing season, failing to reach the finals. Picture: Zain Mohammed/NRL Imagery

“In my eyes, he’s done nothing but good things for the club. He’s a winner, he wants to win. He’s very passionate. He wears his heart on his sleeve like we’ve all seen and no-one sort of epitomises the Broncos as much as Kevvie does.

“I believe he could have got us back to another grand final. Kev’s a great coach. He got us to the grand final 12 months prior to this year, so there’s no reason why we couldn’t have got back there.

“If anything could have gone wrong this year, it did for us.

“I don’t believe Kev was the issue.”

THE LEGACY

Brisbane will keep Walters on as a club ambassador in honour of a brilliant playing career that included 241 games for the Broncos and five premierships, including captaining a grand-final win in 2000.

When he left South Sydney at the end of 2021, Reynolds could have stayed in Sydney by signing with Cronulla, but opted for a new challenge in Brisbane ... largely because of Walters.

“Kev is a massive reason why I came to the Broncos,” Reynolds said.

“He was very influential. I didn’t know much about Kev as a person or had much to do with him prior to coming to the Broncos, but from that moment he flew down to Sydney, I felt this connection straight away.

“We were pretty much on the same page. We wanted the same outcome, we’re both pretty passionate guys that just want to win football games. I’m forever grateful for that opportunity Kev gave me, the faith he showed.”

THE REPUTATION

Reynolds has worked with super coach Wayne Bennett and insists Walters is a quality NRL mentor.

“He’s got a great legacy as a player,” he said. “This club were wooden spooners when Kev took over and he did a lot of wonderful things to put things in place and get us back to where we can get to.

“He’s got a good understanding of balance. Some coaches can go too far the other way and go over the top, but I think Kev definitely has a good balance of hard work, discipline but then also enjoying our job.

“It’s important to understand that sometimes we can forget about the enjoyment side of things in rugby league and certainly with Kev he makes you appreciate what you’ve got.

“Kev’s biggest strength was always challenging the playing group, which I loved.

“His passion was unbeatable, it rubbed off on the players.

“He really cares about his players. He doesn’t fabricate things. He doesn’t beat around the bush. He’s not fake. He’s genuine. He bleeds what the club’s about.

“He’s a great man, but overall, most importantly, he’s a family man.

“That’s what I love about Kev, I see a lot of similarities between myself and him.”

LET DOWN

Reynolds concedes there is a sense that the players let down Walters and admits there are no excuses for Brisbane’s stars as pressure builds on the club to hit back quickly in 2025.

“Unfortunately, we weren’t able to get to the heights that we reached the year before, but that’s not Kevin’s fault. That’s also on us players,” he said.

“As a group we need to have a hard look at ourselves and be honest that we weren’t good enough.

“We have to take ownership, 100 per cent. We’re out there playing the game, not the coach. If we’re not getting results, that’s got to be an onus on the players as well.

“I’m sure whoever comes in will put the onus on us to make sure we get the job done.

“I just feel for Kevvie because he put a lot of great, hard work into the club. I’ve never seen anyone care about the Broncos as much as Kev does. The passion that he shows is pretty special and something that I’ll always try and live up to.

“No doubt a lot of us are going to have a look in the mirror, see how we can get better and get back to playing the footy that we know we can.”