Chris Johns says Brisbane treated former legend and assistant coach Kevin Walters like an idiot
ACCORDING to one former Brisbane legend, former assistant and current Queensland coach Kevin Walters has been severely disrespected by the Broncos.
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BRISBANE legend Chris Johns has launched a savage attack on Broncos hierarchy, accusing club bosses of disrespecting Wayne Bennett and treating former assistant Kevin Walters like an “idiot”.
Johns, also Melbourne’s inaugural chief executive, took aim at Broncos CEO Paul White and the Brisbane board over a Bennett succession plan that he claimed has turned “messy”.
Bennett’s 800th game as NRL coach against Parramatta has been soured by explosive revelations White secretly met with Bellamy without the full knowledge of the Broncos mentor.
Broncos powerbrokers have no idea if Bennett will retire next season — and no idea if Bellamy will commit to a new deal at the Storm.
There is a possibility neither Bennett nor Bellamy will be in charge at the Broncos in 2020 and Johns unloaded on Brisbane’s board, blasting their lack of transparency and leadership.
“If they think Wayne isn’t up to it, tell Wayne and look forward to who the next person will be,” fired Johns, who played 171 games for the Broncos between 1988-96.
“From an outsider looking in, this looks messy. Not a lot of respect has been shown to Wayne Bennett.
“I don’t know what’s going on in the organisation but this whole plan should have been handled a lot better.
“Who is qualified (at the Broncos) to make this decision (on Bennett’s future)? Is it the CEO? Is it the chairman? is it the board?
“This has been very messy. Brisbane’s succession plan should have been rolled out a lot sooner than this.”
Johns said he not only felt for Bennett — Brisbane’s only premiership coach — but also Walters, who controversially quit as Broncos assistant coach six weeks ago.
Former Test centre Johns believes Brisbane’s wishy-washy succession plan cost Walters the chance to launch his NRL coaching career at the Gold Coast Titans.
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“It’s a massive mark of Wayne’s character to handle it the way he has,” Johns said.
“They obviously were talking behind his back, but for what he has done for this club and Queensland, he could have been treated a lot better.
“A bit of honesty would be nice, and to get some transparency going and let everyone know what the succession plan would be.
“The leadership has to come from the board and the Broncos CEO. They have to start mapping things out instead of meeting in dark places and airports and behind closed doors.
“The person I also feel sorry for is Kevvie Walters.
“He has been led around like an idiot. He could have taken the Titans job but I’m sure he was under the impression he was being looked at in Brisbane’s succession plan.
“How can he be in Brisbane’s succession plan if they are looking at Craig Bellamy?
“Kevin was under the impression that he was being looked at by the Broncos. I’m not saying he should be the next Broncos coach but he should be told honestly what they are thinking so he could make career decisions.
“He could have easily taken the Titans job but I know for a fact that he didn’t go for the Titans position because he felt there was life at the Broncos for him.
“I’d like it if the whole process was explained a bit better.”
Originally published as Chris Johns says Brisbane treated former legend and assistant coach Kevin Walters like an idiot