Brisbane Broncos Old Boys blow up over decision to part ways with Kevin Walters

Brisbane Broncos legend Shane Webcke has slammed the decision to dismiss coach Kevin Walters labelling the move as nothing more than spin.

Broncos legend Shane Webcke has become the first Old Boy to come out in support of departing coach Kevin Walters, accusing Brisbane of spin and demanding answers from hierarchy.

Walters’ four-year tenure in charge of the Broncos came to an end on Thursday night after it was announced he would be leaving his role immediately despite being contracted until 2026.

The decision was made after the Broncos crashed from grand finalists last year to missing the finals for the third time in Walters’ four seasons at helm.

Walters, 56, won five premierships as a player during a 241-game career with the Broncos and coached 99 NRL matches after taking over the role from Anthony Seibold following the 2020 wooden spoon season.

Webcke, a 254-game Broncos great, slammed the decision to part ways with Walters after he guided the club to within minutes of last year’s premiership.

“When did it become our way to do things like this?,” he told SEN Radio.

Shane Webcke has lashed out at the Broncos over the decision to part ways with Kevin Walters. Picture: Liam Kidston

“We went from being wooden spooners to seconds away from winning the grand final.

“None of us are happy with the season just gone, and particularly Kevin. But I think the smarter thing to do, and the right thing to do, would have been to let Kevvie coach next year.

“This year is the wake-up call that we needed. We’ve got a good, strong club again, a wonderful roster full of great players.

“The wake-up call will lead them to bigger and better things next year, and perhaps getting back to where we know they can be.”

The decision to part ways with Walters came after an independent review was commissioned into this year’s dramatic crash to 12th on the NRL ladder.

The review, which included interviews with players and staff, was scathing of Walters and prompted Broncos’ hierarchy to sever ties.

The Broncos announced Walters was “stepping down” from his position, but Webcke slammed the club’s messaging and reports the players were left in the dark.

“It can’t be anything else (but spin),” he said

“That (toll on family) wouldn’t make Kevvie Walters step away. I promise you. Kevin’s known that the whole time he’s been a coach.

“It does smell like they’re trying to put nice pretty wallpaper over it and call it something that it’s not.

“Adam Reynolds was saying they (players) did not know. If that is true, that is the most unprofessional thing I reckon I’ve ever heard that club come up with.”

The departure of Walters is expected to trigger a barrage of criticism from ex-Broncos players given his popularity among the Old Boys.

Webcke said he would have supported the decision if the Broncos hadn’t shown signs of improvement next year.

“If I thought this was the right thing, if I thought sacking Kevvie was the right way to go, I’d support it because one thing we all know is none of us are bigger than the club,” he said.

“No players are, no ex-players are, no one is. So the good of the club has got to come first.

“I just don’t think that this serves the best interests of the club. I don’t think anyone wins out of this, and I think you could have achieved the same result in a very, very different way.

“Give it a chance and all the rest of it and then none of us would be having these conversations. That’s the right way to do it, that’s the right way to run a footy club.

“On the surface it looks like a kneejerk decision made by people who don’t understand what our club’s about, and what our game’s about.”

Originally published as Brisbane Broncos Old Boys blow up over decision to part ways with Kevin Walters