NRL 2024: Brisbane Broncos coach Kevin Walters issues stern Las Vegas message after scandal

As the Broncos sweat on the availability of Adam Reynolds and Pat Carrigan for the club’s historic Las Vegas fixture, coach Kevin Walters has issued his players a Sin City warning.

Kevin Walters. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Broncos coach Kevin Walters insists Brisbane’s stars will not cause chaos in Las Vegas, warning the club’s historic trip to America is not a “holiday” in the wake of the Adam Reynolds-Pat Carrigan affair.

Brisbane’s preparations for the NRL’s gala premiership launch in Sin City suffered a jolt after skipper Reynolds and his deputy Carrigan were embroiled in a drunken altercation on Sunday night.

A contrite Reynolds and Carrigan publicly apologised on Tuesday and will now await an NRL integrity unit investigation to determine if they are free to play against the Roosters at Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium on March 3.

Walters remains hopeful his star duo will get the green light, but the sight of Brisbane’s big guns finding trouble off the field has triggered fears of a booze-related drama in America’s premier party town.

Walters is so serious about winning two competition points in Vegas the Broncos will go into a week-long camp at the home of the Los Angeles Rams to largely avoid the temptations of Sin City.

Kevin Walters. Picture: Steve Pohlner

As Brisbane prepare to launch the NRL pre-season challenge in Sunday’s trial against the Cowboys in Mackay, Walters implored Broncos stars to be on their best behaviour in Vegas.

“You would expect them to behave over there,” Walters said.

“I am confident of that because we’ve had an immaculate last couple of years.

“No-one from outside the club was involved (in the Reynolds-Carrigan altercation), so all we’ve done is hurt ourselves and the brand rather than the public.

“It’s very exciting to be part of the NRL’s event in Vegas.

“Getting away as a group together on a longer-term journey, 15 hours in the air and 10 or 12 days in the US, it’s all new to all of us with new training facilities and living over there in a camp.

“It’s a good chance for us to bond as a team, but my message to the players is we’re going there to win.

“We’re taking this seriously and I’m sure the three other teams are feeling the same way ... it won’t be a holiday.”

Walters knows all eyes are on the Broncos this season. His troops are coming off a grand final performance and bookmakers have installed Brisbane among the favourites to win this year’s NRL premiership.

The Broncos coach insists the Reynolds-Carrigan clash is not a sign the club has an alcohol problem, adamant the club has worked overtime to rebuild the club from wooden spooners to title contenders.

“At the end of the day, what happened on Sunday night, no-one condones it, but it’s happened and we have to move on,” he said.

“I don’t feel like they have let me down. They have let themselves down.

“Patty is a terrific person, he does so much work in the community. As a club we have got in and supported our players, but we are also respectful of the situation and we’re dealing with it appropriately.

“Alcohol is a problem in society, not just in rugby league, and we are part of society.

“I’m not sure how much alcohol was consumed. It’s not ideal. It’s not a great example and we’re not proud of it, but we all make mistakes.

Patrick Carrigan and Adam Reynolds, Brisbane Broncos training, Red Hill. Picture: Liam Kidston

“They have let some people down and that’s never nice. But we have a trial to play on Sunday night, then it’s round 1 in Vegas and that’s where our focus is.”

While describing the drunken wrestle as “not the end of the world”, Walters said the club is not sweeping the matter under the carpet.

“It’s not a relaxed attitude. I have walked in their shoes before and sometimes it’s not easy,” he said.

“Rugby league is a very competitive sport, lots of testosterone and men like to have fun.

“I spoke to them (Reynolds and Carrigan) about being a good person and behaving well.

“We’ve all been in those situations where if you could take back time you certainly would, but we can’t.

“The world changes all the time. We will make sure they have learnt their lesson and it’s not something that is part of our group moving forward.”