NRL 2023: Gorden Tallis’ feud with Brisbane Broncos is over as he backs Kevin Walters’ grand final push

Gorden Tallis’ war of words with the Broncos is over, after he was welcomed back to the club for the first time since tearing shreds off them four years ago. FIND OUT WHAT HE SAID.

Gorden Tallis' war of words with the Brisbane Broncos is over.

Gorden Tallis says Kevin Walters is the coach to break Brisbane’s 17-year premiership drought as the ‘Raging Bull’ declared the Broncos’ band of young guns are ready to build a golden new era at Red Hill.

News Corp can reveal Tallis’ war of words with the Broncos is over, with the club legend outlining how Walters has healed the fractured Broncos ahead of Saturday night’s clash against Wests Tigers at Suncorp Stadium.

It is almost four years to the day that Tallis - one of Brisbane’s greatest captains - launched a withering attack on the Broncos.

During Anthony Seibold’s reign in April 2019, Tallis delivered an explosive critique of Brisbane’s fallen empire, claiming the Broncos had lost their aura, saying the playing group “walk around town like they own the place” despite having “won nothing”.

But Tallis is back in the inner-sanctum at Red Hill, addressing the playing group before their round 1 clash against premiers Penrith as Walters reached out to Brisbane’s legendary past to build a winning future.

Gorden Tallis has ended his feud with the Broncos, making an appearance at Red Hill earlier this month. Picture: Tara Croser.

PREMIERSHIP WINDOW

Walters’ strategic plan to summon club icons Tallis, Wally Lewis and Gene Miles was significant.

It was his way of indoctrinating the current group of Brisbane’s premiership DNA - and Tallis says he has no lingering resentment towards the Broncos as he backs Walters to deliver their first title since 2006.

“It’s a long year but I believe Kevin Walters can win a premiership for the Broncos,” Tallis said.

“For me, I am seeing the Broncos of old again.

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“There is no negative noise coming out of there.

“I went in to visit the team the other week and there was this humming buzz in the room and all the good coaches want to hear that.

“I can tell you from experience, when there is a humming noise among the group, it means it’s a happy dressing room and a happy club.

They won a premiership together as players, now Gorden Tallis has backed former teammate Kevin Walters to win a premiership as the Broncos coach.

“I have noticed a dramatic difference between this year’s team and their teams of recent years.

“I noticed a winning vibe in this group.

“It’s only round four, so it’s early days, but at the moment the Broncos are ticking every box.

“That win over St George (a fortnight ago) was the closest win I have ever seen to our sides of the ‘90s, just the style of the win and the way the Broncos finished them off.

“The style of footy Brisbane have at the moment when they get it right, they can beat anybody.

“So that means the game plans they go out with every week work.

“Kevin Walters plays a role in that and if the Broncos do their job, ‘Kevvie’ has the winning mindset to break the drought.”

THE WALTERS EFFECT

Tallis is now a Titans ambassador and while he is fully committed to helping regenerate the Gold Coast, his premiership chapters with Walters at the Broncos will never be forgotten.

The ferocious back-rower won three titles at the Broncos in 1997-98 and 2000 and explained why Walters can clinch Brisbane’s seventh premiership with the likes of Reece Walsh, Selwyn Cobbo, Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan on his roster.

Tallis believes Walters has restored Brisbane’s premiership DNA. Picture: Steve Pohlner.

“People who doubted Kevvie do not realise he is a winner,” Tallis said.

“I would go to war for Kevin Walters.

“If he ever needs me to help out at the Broncos, I will be there.

“I will back him to win a premiership because at the Broncos, Kevvie was the smartest player, most successful and most passionate player I ever played with, bar none, including Allan Langer.

“I don’t have the career I had without him. That’s how good Kevin was and why I have faith in him to turn this current group into a premiership force.

“It’s like Tom Brady in the NFL. You know if Tom Brady works with you and mentors you, you are learning from the best quarterback.

“If the Broncos can bide their time and the penny drops with the style of play Kevvie wants and what it means to be a Bronco, they will be a premiership contender.”

GORDIE’S RED HILL RETURN

Walters is poised to ink a two-year extension with the Broncos and Tallis admits he was surprisingly anxious confronting Brisbane’s current crop of players.

Tallis’ return earlier this month was his most significant appearance at Red Hill since his honest assessments about the Broncos losing the way as an NRL glamour club.

“The truth is I was nervous because I’ve been out of the NRL for 20 years and I look at a bloke like Payne Haas and I have to tell him what made us good when I’m no longer good enough to do his job,” Tallis said.

Tallis says the Broncos have re-established a bond, and are finally committed to each other.

“I admire guys like Payne and Patty Carrigan because they do a job that I can’t do anymore.

“I retired because I lost my s*** as a player; now here I was standing before these guys trying to tell them how to do their job better even though I can’t do what they do.

“The big thing is I see a bond among the group again. The way they defend for each other, you can see they like each other. Attack is individual brilliance, but defence shows whether a team is committed to each other.

“I see this Broncos group being comfortable being uncomfortable which all the great teams are.

“I’ve had a lot of chapters in my life. I will never forget that I played for St George, but the Broncos were a massive part of my life and I want to see them back at the top again.

“They will make their own era. They will make their footprint. Kevvie will do it. He has the players like (Adam) Reynolds, Reece Walsh, Pat Carrigan and Payne Haas and their premiership window is open these next few years.

“I would love to see this new group create the legacy we did and I believe they will.”

Originally published as NRL 2023: Gorden Tallis’ feud with Brisbane Broncos is over as he backs Kevin Walters’ grand final push