- Pressure is mounting on Broncos coach Kevin Walters
- The 50-12 thrashing against Melbourne Storm won’t help
- His son Billy believes scathing criticism is ‘unnecessary’
- Hooker also stated disgruntled fans have ‘short memories’
Broncos hooker Billy Walters has defended his under pressure father Kevin as fed up footy fans called for him to be sacked as head coach.
The dummy half spoke to Triple M on Thursday night moments after Brisbane were hammered 50-12 by the Melbourne Storm and declared ongoing criticism in some quarters was ‘unnecessary.’
Walters also pointed out his dad guided the Broncos to the NRL Grand Final last season.
‘People have short memories,’ he told listeners from Suncorp Stadium.
‘He took a team from the wooden spoon to [almost] winning a competition against the best team we have seen in the past 40 years.
‘The criticism is harsh.’
Supporters didn’t hold back on social media, with many wanting to see a new head coach at Red Hill in 2025 and beyond.
‘He [Billy Walters] has a short memory. [Kevin has] been there four years and missed the finals three out of the four,’ one posted on X.
Broncos hooker Billy Walters has defended his under pressure father Kevin as fed up footy fans call for him to be sacked as head coach
Since taking over as Broncos head coach in 2021, Kevin Walters has only guided his team to the finals once
Another bluntly stated: ‘Billy knows his Broncos career is over the moment his dad leaves the building.’
A third weighed in with: ‘Lots of excuses at the Broncos, not much accountability.’
Billy Walters’ fighting words comes despite the Broncos finishing the season in 12th spot.
Post game, Kevin Walters was asked whether the playing roster would look different next year.
‘Not a whole lot….’I don’t believe we need to. I honestly believe that the talent is inside the building,’ he said.
‘We’ve just got to get working together in the right direction. We’ve done it before and we’ll do it again.’
The Broncos lost centre Herbie Farnworth and three top 17 forwards – Kurt Capewell, Tom Flegler and Keenan Palasia – from last year’s grand final side to rival NRL clubs.
Three forwards were recruited this season – Jaiyden Hunt, Jack Gosiewski and Fletcher Baker – but none of the trio fired.
The Broncos were hammered 50-12 by Melbourne on Thursday (pictured) – and fans were quick to voice their displeasure on social media
The Broncos have held talks with Canberra firebrand Corey Horsburgh for next year.
They will likely also bid farewell to forward Kobe Hetherington, who has been given permission to negotiate with other clubs. Winger Corey Oates and prop Martin Taupau have not been offered new contracts.
Walters will start a season review with staff and players on Monday. The need to go to market may well be one of the recommendations of that investigation into what went wrong this year.
The Broncos conceded more than 600 points for the season for just the third time in their history dating back to 1988, highlighting their defensive frailties.
‘It hasn’t been there for most of the year really. There wouldn’t be too many (games) that we kept under our projected figure for the season,’ Walters said.
‘So it’s definitely an area where we’re going to put a lot of work into. We know we’ve got the talent, and talent comes through with the attack. It’s the mindset with defence where we need to get a whole lot better and that’ll be our first port of call.
‘We took a lot of steps back this year. I’m just extremely disappointed. I feel for all our fans and our sponsors and everyone involved in the club.
‘It’s not acceptable what happened this year, but we’ll do a full review and get some positive answers and then start working on them.’
