NRL 2022: Kevin Walters reveals Broncos stars have complained about punishing pre-season

Just weeks out from the season kick-off, Broncos coach Kevin Walters has been forced to ‘back off’ his players as the club’s high-performance program comes under the microscope.

Kevin Walters says he has put Brisbane’s high-performance program under the microscope after fielding “complaints” from Broncos stars that they were being overtrained on the eve of this year’s premiership.

As the Broncos prepare for their final trial against the Cowboys on Saturday night in Mackay, Walters revealed he had moved to ease the strain on Brisbane players amid fears some top-liners were physically fatigued by a punishing pre-season.

News Corp understands Walters has held discussions with several senior players, including new skipper Adam Reynolds, and head of performance David Ballard over the potential effects of Brisbane’s training methods.

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The Broncos have eased off after complaints the players were being ‘overtrained’.

While there is no suggestion of an injury crisis, up to five Brisbane players have reported “general soreness”, including Reynolds and No.1 prop Payne Haas, who were both rested for last week’s trial against the Titans.

Marquee halfback recruit Reynolds has been put on ice until round one. Te Maire Martin tweaked his hamstring in Brisbane’s opening trial against Wynnum, strike centre Kotoni Staggs reported minor soreness, while first-choice fullback Tesi Niu suffered a grade-two hamstring tear at training last week.

The Broncos suffered a raft of injuries last season, using a club record 36 players, and Walters is wary of pushing his players to breaking point mentally and physically as Brisbane plot a finals fightback this year.

“There is often hamstring injuries and soft-tissue stuff, so we have backed off a bit,” Walters told News Corp.

“We had a group meeting and you have to listen.

“The players need to listen to their bodies and if they are not feeling 100 per cent, which is rare that they do, but if they are sore and complaining, well ... we need to hear that.

“They have been coming forward with the information, which is good to know.”

Adam Reynolds won’t appear until the Broncos’ round one clash.

Brisbane’s strength-and-conditioning program underwent a shake-up last year following a club-wide review which led to the release of former head of football Peter Nolan and high-performance chief Andrew Croll.

Ballard was appointed as Croll’s successor and such was his immediate impact - the Broncos won four of their last nine games - he was a co-winner of the clubperson-of-the-year gong at Brisbane’s Awards night.

The Broncos have endured two poor seasons, including a wooden-spoon finish under Anthony Seibold in 2020, triggering concerns over the full-time squad’s general fitness.

That has prompted the Broncos to raise the bar in pre-season as Walters looks to bring a harder edge to a Brisbane side that leaked a club record 695 points last year.

“It’s a fine line,” he said.

“Last year we were accused of not pushing them hard enough.

“It’s not ideal (players reporting soreness), but it’s the world we live in.

Kevin Walters says he is happy with the fitness of the Broncos players.

“We have to push our players hard in pre-season. Sometimes it creates injuries, but generally I am happy with their fitness and the feedback from players at other clubs is their training has been pretty solid as well.”

Reynolds’ failure to play a single minute of trials has sounded alarm bells, but Walters dismissed suggestions Brisbane’s tough pre-season has taken a toll on their star $2.4 million recruit.

“No, there’s no concern with Adam,” he said.

“We are resting him this weekend and making sure that he is right for round one.

“He has played enough football to get himself ready and our training drills accommodate that as well. We want him fresh for round one. He has a huge season in front of him.

“We will lighten his load a bit and start him in round one.”