NRL 2024: Daly Cherry-Evans, Cameron Munster urge Brisbane Broncos to keep faith in Kevin Walters
Queensland skipper Daly Cherry-Evans and Storm ace Cameron Munster have urged Brisbane chiefs to keep faith in Broncos coach Kevin Walters as the club commences a sweeping review of their 2024 season collapse.
Queensland skipper Daly Cherry-Evans has warned Brisbane of the dangers of sacking Kevin Walters as Broncos bosses continue a sweeping review of the embattled club.
There have been calls for Walters to be sacked in the wake of Brisbane’s collapse this season, but Cherry-Evans and Storm ace Cameron Munster urged Brisbane chiefs to keep faith in the ‘Kev-olution’.
Walters has missed the finals three times during his four-season tenure and is currently presiding over a wide-ranging review involving chief executive Dave Donaghy, who vowed to “drill down into every area” of the Broncos.
Walters is off-contract at the end of 2026, but Parramatta’s Brad Arthur and Souths’ Jason Demetriou were both sacked this season after slow starts respectively, despite being contracted beyond 2024.
Broncos CEO Donaghy insists Walters will be at the helm for Brisbane’s 2025 pre-season and Cherry-Evans is adamant his former Queensland Origin coach is the man to engineer a Red Hill revival.
The champion Manly and Queensland halfback says the Sea Eagles’ finals fightback this season - after finishing 12th last year - is evidence Walters can turn the Broncos around quickly with a stable front-office.
“I’ve got a lot of time for Kev,” said ‘DCE’, who was recalled to the Queensland fold by Walters in 2018.
“I would love to see him stay and coach in the NRL.
“I love seeing him coach the Broncos because it’s the right fit for the club and I know what it means to him.
“I’ve got a lot of support for him.
“The Broncos are a club with so much expectation, and when they don’t do well, you really can’t hide.
“It (missing the finals) will motivate the group for sure.
“I can only talk from my experience, but our Manly group was heavily motivated by the last couple of years of not playing finals.
“All 17 teams are here to play finals, so it is disappointing when you don’t get there.
“But not making it can sometimes really refocus you into how hungry you are and how motivated you are.
“I’ve played alongside Broncos guys like Patty (Carrigan) and Reece (Walsh) in the Queensland team, and I know that they will be so hungry to get back to the finals next year.”
The opening round of the 2025 premiership will be Walters’ 100th game in charge of the Broncos.
The 56-year-old has won 50 of 99 NRL games for a 50.5 per cent success rate, headlined by Brisbane’s fairytale charge to last year’s grand final against Penrith.
Munster, who was given his Queensland Origin debut by Walters in 2017, believes the Broncos coach was a victim of Brisbane losing four grand-final players this season.
Asked if the Broncos must show faith in Walters, Munster said: “Yes.
“He was 20 minutes away from a grand final and probably causing an upset to one of the best squads (Penrith) the NRL has ever seen.
“It’s an interesting one. Twenty minutes. If the Broncos had their time over again with certain things it could be a very different story.
“I think they’ve got to stick by Kevvie and I’m sure they’ll make amends next year.
“They have got young boys coming through.
“You’ve got to remember they lost (Tom) Flegler, Keenan Palasia and Herbie Farnworth.
“When you lose someone of their calibre and you’ve got a young bloke that probably needs a couple of years to develop, they’re probably just pushing them along earlier, a bit like us last year at the Storm.
“It just takes time. You’ve just got to be patient and the fans have got to be patient as well.”
Cherry-Evans advised Brisbane’s stars not to lose faith in the systems and roster that propelled them to the 2023 grand final.
“They have to not forget how good they were last year,” he said.
“That’s the most important part.
“I have a lot of good friends in that Broncos side and I do hope they turn it around next year.
“I have a lot of respect for what Kev has done for me as a coach.
“Sometimes you just need a break and seasons don’t go the way you want it to. Because of the expectation of last year, I’m sure they’re all disappointed, but they still have a very strong roster to bounce back next year.”
More Coverage
Broncos star Ezra Mam enters rehab
Brisbane Broncos star Ezra Mam is undergoing immediate professional treatment in the wake of his head-on car accident which has left his $4 million NRL contract in jeopardy.
Kiwi revenge mission: Kangaroos out to restore pride in jersey
The Kangaroos were embarrassed by New Zealand in the Pacific Championships final last year. Star prop Lindsay Collins has vowed to restore pride in green and gold jumper this time round.