‘I was shocked’: How Kevin Walters really got ‘sacked’ by Broncos

Former Broncos coach Kevin Walters has revealed the most “hurtful” part of the final hours before he was shown the door.

Kevin Walters was out at a Chinese restaurant with two assistant coaches planning for the Broncos’ 2025 season when club officials were preparing to show him the door.

Walters has opened up on his turbulent exit from the powerhouse Brisbane club where he was seen in tears during a final farewell appearance in front of TV cameras in September, 2024.

The former Queensland State of Origin coach left the club on “mutual terms” after a damning post-season review into the club’s failed, injury-ridden 2024 campaign.

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Walters led the team to the 2023 NRL Grand Final before he was sacked on September 26, not even 12 months later.

It was reported at the time Walters had been left angry when confronted with some claims made in the post-season review.

Despite this he didn’t see the bullet coming when sitting down with new assistant coaches Ten Te’o and Trent Barrett.

“I was shocked,” Walters says in the first episode of a new podcast series the 57-year-old is featuring in alongside veteran journalist Ben Dobbin.

“We were a long way down the track, planning for 2025. We’d hired two assistants, made some changes where we needed to make some changes, so we’re already forward-planning for the season of 2025 and then I guess I accelerated things.

“You know, I rang my manager and sort of said, ‘I’ve got a bad feeling in my stomach that this isn’t quite right’.

Kevin Walters on the podcast. Photo: YouTube and @insideballpodcast.

“He made a phone call and we went in and they made a decision to finish up with me. I’ve been sacked, basically.”

The Broncos at the time said the decision to move on from Walters had been “mutual” between the club and former Queensland State of Origin coach.

He says in the Kevie Walters Inside Ball podcast he remains a Broncos “ambassador” — but it was reported last week he had no official ties to the club and was not on the payroll.

He says in the podcast he is not bitter towards his former club, but believes his exit should have been handled better.

He says that it all happened fast after that first call made by his manager and that he soon found himself facing TV cameras alongside Broncos chief executive Dave Donaghy.

He did not take questions at the time, but did read a short statement thanking those who supported him, including his family and wife Narelle.

“That was hurtful getting up in front of the cameras that day,” he said.

“I wanted to stand up in front of everyone and let them know that I was leaving.

“That’s why I did it. I did it because I want to own what happened and accept responsibility that I was moving on.

Kevin Walters and CEO Dave Donaghy. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images.

“When I got into the building (when I first started coaching the Broncos), yeah I had to find my own shirt to get into the building and get a photo, compared to where they are now.

“We missed the finals last year by two wins which is not a lot. But also we should have done better and I accept that full responsibility.

“But for it to pan out the way it did, considering when I walked into the building (the Broncos had finished last), I went to a grand final in 2023 … I’m comfortable with what I did at the Broncos in my time there.

“We were two or three minutes away from winning a grand final.”

He says he will find it difficult to watch son Billy play for the club this season. He has lifetime seats at Suncorp Stadium, Code Sports reports.

He has not yet sought out NRL coaching jobs since his departure from the Broncos, and will spend 2025 as a leading NRL analyst with Fox League.

He says he will eventually return to coaching and has the passion and self-belief needed to take on a job as an NRL head coach.

Originally published as ‘I was shocked’: How Kevin Walters really got ‘sacked’ by Broncos