Kevin Walters and Brisbane Broncos players cop a dose of home truths from Mark Burgess
A former Brisbane Broncos trainer has savaged Kevin Walters as a poor leader who can’t hear home truths, while also spraying the current ‘pampered’ crop of players.
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A former trainer to Kevin Walters and Wayne Bennett has launched a savage attack on the Broncos, accusing Brisbane players of being soft and the coach surrounding himself with ‘yes men’.
Mark ‘Chopper’ Burgess is one of Australia’s longest-serving sporting conditioners who was a staffer under Bennett during a six-year stretch in 1998-2004 that netted two premierships.
Burgess has also worked with the Queensland Reds under Brad Thorn and was part of Brisbane’s high-performance unit under Walters for one year in 2022.
Walters has overhauled his coaching staff for next season, hiring Trent Barrett from Parramatta and Ben Te’o from the Dolphins to replace England-bound John Cartwright and Lee Briers.
Burgess says he has no personal issue with Walters, but believes the Broncos coach is reluctant to hear some home truths.
“A lot of it was Kevvie having ‘yes men’,” said Burgess, who oversaw conditioning sessions with Broncos stars including Payne Haas, Adam Reynolds, Pat Carrigan and Reece Walsh, on radio station 4BC.
“So you just don’t argue with the boss
“I’ve had so many arguments with Wayne Bennett, Michael Maguire, Ricky Stuart and Steve Kearney, all great coaches.
“They want to have a different perspective. They want a trainer in their crew to say, ‘Listen, that might not be right. Can we do it this way?’
“They quite enjoy that feedback and then compliment you on that kind of feedback.
“Whereas with Kevvie’s crew, it was his way or the highway.
“I love Kev. He’s a great bloke. He’s a terrific guy. I know his wife and his kids, but the key is leadership.
“The key is this is the boss, this is what we do, they delegate when they have to ... if the Broncos don’t get some honesty, then you’re going to get the same results.”
DO SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE FOR SOCIETY
Asked if Broncos players are too pampered and need a reality check, Burgess said: “110 per cent. Get them a job. Get them studying at TAFE where I am (doing mentoring).
“Stop having them sign autographs and take selfies with fans all day, and get them out there earning their money.
“They are paid ridiculous money. Go out and earn it. Go and do some studying. Go to old people’s homes. Do some work. Go and tidy up a cemetery.
“Do something productive for society, not just collect your money.”
Burgess believes Walters is missing the leadership and front-office support of Ikin, who quit the Broncos last year to become the Queensland Rugby League CEO.
Ikin left after “creative tensions” with Walters.
“Ben Ikin, for me, he’s the greatest loss that club’s ever had,” Burgess said.
“The worst decision ever made was to let Ben Ikin go. Secondly, it would have been losing (Tom) Flegler, Herbie Farnworth and Kurt Capewell.
“They need big, big changes. Massive changes.
“Kevvie’s got big problems with the people around him. I don’t know that that’s very supportive for Kevvie, he hasn’t had great support.
“Review what happened in the last two weeks and make decisions off that.
“The issue is, will the Broncos do it? Are they a protected species? Will they continue to lose?
“They haven’t won anything since 2006.
“You’ve got to be trained for greatness. The Broncos are a great club ... they need to get back on that pedestal.”
GYM LOOKS MORE LIKE A HAIRDRESSING SALON
“I would hate to be a Broncos supporter today. They are being let down,” said Burgess.
“It’s not how a rugby league team should run.
“Two biggest things that shocked me ... one, there were way too many mirrors in the gym and two, you weren’t allowed to sweat, and if you did, you carried a towel with you.
“This palatial gymnasium they have looks more like a hairdressing salon.
“First and foremost, it was the number of staff they had.
“In 2000, it was Wayne Bennett, Craig (Bellamy), Dan Baker, probably the best weights coach ever, two physios, myself and Chris Haseman the wrestling coach and we were winning premierships.
“Wayne Bennett won many titles in a rusted old gym beside the bowls club.
“I walked into the Broncos in 2022 and there’s a trainer per player doing something that justified their existence and position there.
“I asked that quite regularly (the club having excessive staff) and was mowed down for my comments.
“It was a bit of a power trip for a lot of their staff.
“In the last two weeks, the Broncos have leaked (90) points.
“One of Wayne’s classic lines at any (pre-season) camp or program is, defence is about attitude.
“The Broncos have let (90) points leak in the last two weeks ... how do you reckon the players’ attitude is?
“What you have in your heart goes onto the ground. That’s what I tried to drive, ‘Train hard, fight easy’, and Bennett loved it.
“They have this high-performance centre worth millions and millions of dollars, it’s the benchmark in the competition ... clearly it’s not showing on the field.”
Originally published as Kevin Walters and Brisbane Broncos players cop a dose of home truths from Mark Burgess
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