NRL 2023: Flu scare sweeps through the Broncos, Walters in doubt for Seibold showdown

Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans sinks the boot into a Brisbane club bracing for a bout of flu to spread its way through the team before the Magic Round blockbuster.

Kevin Walters is in doubt to be in the box on Friday. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans believes competition leaders the Broncos must overcome the demons of last year’s horror collapse to break their 17-year premiership drought this season.

Brisbane have had a turbulent build up to Friday night’s clash against Manly, with bed-ridden coach Kevin Walters in doubt as a flu scare sweeps through the Broncos ahead of Magic Round at Suncorp Stadium.

Walters’ assistant coach John Cartwright is on standby to take charge of the Broncos after Brisbane’s head coach failed to appear at the captain’s run on Thursday, informing the club he had been floored by the flu.

Cartwright called the shots at Broncos training and the former Titans foundation coach is ready to step into the Brisbane hotseat if Walters - cleared of Covid - is too sick to attend the Sea Eagles showdown.

The Broncos are shock NRL leaders after nine rounds with a 7-2 record and while Cherry-Evans is wary of their star-studded roster, he says Brisbane will not have forgotten their stunning demise in 2022.

Kevin Walters is in doubt to be in the box on Friday. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Brisbane were flying in fourth spot after 19 rounds before suffering a shocking seven-week capitulation that saw Walters’ troops crash to ninth, inexplicably missing the finals by one win.

“Only time will tell if they can win the comp,” Cherry-Evans said ahead of the Manly-Broncos blockbuster.

“They have been the team to beat so far this year, their unbeaten run to start the year was pretty impressive to watch.

“We’re definitely using them as a bit of a measuring stick to see where we are at. The Broncos are a good side and they are playing in front of their home fans, so we’re excited by the challenge of seeing where we are at against the ladder leaders.

Payne Haas at broncos training. Picture: Josh Woning

“Right now, they are a genuine contender and that’s what makes this match-up so exciting for us.

“But we still have to see if they have got over the mental hurdles of last year.

“Only they will know if they have come to terms with that and only they will be able to respond to it at the end of the year.”

Cherry-Evans’ assessment comes as his Manly coach Anthony Seibold prepares to return to face Brisbane - and possibly Walters - for the first time since his turbulent tenure at the Broncos.

Seibold and Walters battled it out for the Broncos coaching post after Wayne Bennett was sacked in 2018. The former won the job, but Walters got the last laugh, succeeding Seibold after he fell on his sword at the Broncos amid their wooden-spoon debacle of 2020.

Should Walters be scratched, the Broncos are in good hands with Cartwright, a 25-year veteran who coached the Titans for 186 games during an eight-season reign from 2007-14.

“I will have Kevvie on the phone I would say if I’m in the chair,” he said.

“With technology these days we might even have a screen for him to zoom in.

“We’re hoping Kev will be OK for the game.

“There has been a bit of the flu around in general, a few of the players have had it as well, so we’re being a bit cautious, because a bout of flu through your side can really affect your result.

“But the players are prepared for game day and if it’s not second nature now, we aren’t doing our jobs in the off-season.

“We have a good experienced crew, we don’t change the way we play too much week to week.

“Hopefully if Kevvie isn’t there, I can smoke a cigar in the box.”

Seibold had a dismal record at Red Hill, winning 14 of 38 games for a 36 per cent success rate, but Cherry-Evans said he was impressed by the former Dally M coach of the year at Manly (4-4).

Kobe Hetherington has been cleared to play. Picture: Liam Kidston

“I had ‘Seibs’ as an assistant at Manly in 2016 and I don’t know what he was like as a head coach at the Broncos, but since he’s come back, he has been really clear on what game model he wants us to play with,” Cherry-Evans said.

“He has been really collaborative with myself, Jake and Tom (Trbojevic) around how we see the team moving forward.

“He is working nicely with the senior players and he has a heap of respect for everyone and vice-versa.

“We have a clear vision of how we want the season to end and the style we want as a side.

“I would say it’s a pass mark so far, but inconsistency is hurting us at the moment and we can’t afford that against a team like the Broncos.”

Originally published as NRL 2023: Flu scare sweeps through the Broncos, Walters in doubt for Seibold showdown