NRL grand final: ‘Shattered’ Broncos coach Kevin Walters delivers inspiring message to fans

Shattered Brisbane coach Kevin Walters has delivered an inspiring message to Broncos fans as players fight back tears following the grand final heartbreak.

Kevin Walters consoles Ezra Mam who is inconsolable after losing the 2023 NRL Grand Final between the Brisbane Broncos and the Penrith Panthers at Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park. Pics Adam Head

A defiant Kevin Walters insists Brisbane players will not be mentally broken by their shattering grand final collapse, declaring the Broncos have the talent and desire to mount a premiership fightback next season.

Walters is determined to ensure the Broncos are not one-hit grand-final wonders in the wake of Brisbane’s gut-wrenching 26-24 loss to the Panthers in a pulsating decider on Sunday night at Accor Stadium.

The Broncos imploded like no team in grand final history, somehow botching a 24-8 lead with 21 minutes remaining as Penrith scored three tries in 14 minutes to snatch the title from Brisbane’s grasp.

By rights, the Broncos should be the club’s new band of heroes, handed the keys to the city of Brisbane for breaking their 17-year title drought.

A shattered Kevin Walters. Picture: Adam Head

Instead, they were reduced to tears by a Penrith tsunami and the psychological wounds will linger for some time.

But Brisbane coach Walters vowed his troops will rise again and believes the scars of one of the most painful defeats in grand-final history will steel the Broncos for a premiership assault next season.

“We will come back from this,” Walters said.

“This won’t break us - our time will come.

“The soul is back in the club and I will make sure we continue our great work.

“We started something two years ago and we aren’t there yet, but we are closer than what we were three years ago and that’s the thing I can take out of this.

“I am proud of everyone in the club, so now we have to keep working hard and maintain where we are.

“We are a big club, a great club with good players and we need to keep going.

“It would have been great to win the premiership certainly, but even if we won, the finished product isn’t there.

“We have a lot more to achieve.”

Brisbane vice-captain Kurt Capewell scoffed at suggestions the Broncos won’t recover from their Homebush heartbreak.

“We will be back here in 12 months, trust me, quote me on that,” said Capewell, fighting back tears.

“It’s heartbreaking for sure. I’m shattered.

“No matter how you lose a grand final it’s going to hurt, but the extra salt to the wound is the lead we had.

“To be up by 16 and blow it, it’s hard to deal with.

“But we will be back here in 12 months and we will win it next year.”

There is no question Brisbane have the nucleus of a top-four team next season but the Broncos are facing the very roster erosion that three-time premiers Penrith have experienced in recent years.

Kurt Capewell was holding back tears. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty

Key duo Tom Flegler and Herbie Farnworth will join cross-city rivals the Dolphins next season, while interchange forward Keenan Palasia is linking with the Titans.

That will leave three major holes in Brisbane’s grand-final squad, but Broncos board member and former skipper Darren Lockyer is confident the club can challenge for next year’s title with skipper Adam Reynolds in the No.7 jumper.

“To lose a grand final makes you more hungry to win one,” said Lockyer, who skippered Brisbane to their last premiership win in 2006.

“Flegler and Farnworth are a big loss. They were enormous all season, but the youth is there.

“While Adam (Reynolds) is still wearing the seven jumper, I think there is a premiership window for us.”

The Broncos showed in the decider they are the one team with the strike weapons to worry Penrith.

The Panthers are certain to start the 2024 premiership as favourites for a fourth straight title, but Broncos front-row legend Shane Webcke backed Brisbane to overcome the scar tissue of a grand-final near miss.

“They will come back stronger from this,” Webcke said.

“Kevin has got us back to the club we used to be. We are not a club that is going to fold and when you look at this roster, they will be 12 months wiser and better next season.

“Guys like Ezra Mam, Reece Walsh and Payne Haas will come back better players.

“Kevin has done an outstanding job rebuilding this club.

“Three years ago we were wooden spooners and we’re now in a grand final.

“I have no doubt this team can play in the grand final next season and win a premiership very soon.

“You look at Penrith and that scenario can be the Broncos in the coming seasons.

“This team is only just getting started and while this is a kick in the guts, these men have the mental fortitude to bounce back.”