Sacked Brisbane coach Kevin Walters was emotional during his exit press conference on Friday morning, with the club confirming he will stay on as a Broncos ambassador.
The Brisbane premiership-winning player joined CEO Dave Donaghy at club headquarters but did not take questions from waiting media after being told Thursday night his services were no longer required.
Donaghy said “a number of conversations” in the past fortnight, led to both sides agreeing to part ways, with Donaghy calling it a decision reached “collectively”.
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Donaghy’s claim was rubbished by Walters’ friend and former Broncos teammate Shane Webcke in a radio interview on Friday morning.
Walters choked up when he thanked the original owners of the club and his family, who were in attendance.
He said his proudest moment during his coaching tenure was reaching the grand final with the 2023 team and said there were “very joyful” and “tough” moments while head coach.
“I’d like to thank the original owners of the club, Barry, Paul, Steve and Gary for initially starting the club,” Walters said.
“I think we’re all indebted for those that started this great club and I was fortunate enough to play here as a player and in the last four years as the head coach, I’ve been an assistant coach here as well.
“So my time here has been very joyful I’ve got to say. A lot of my time here has been good times. Also, like everyone has their dry moments and their moments where you learn and you get better.
“That’s certainly been the case for me in the last four years. I am really proud of the fact that when I arrived here, as Dave said, the club wasn’t in great shape.
“I feel that myself along with a lot of other good staff and people here have shaped the club into today.”
The Broncos CEO paid tribute to the “enormous contribution” Walters made to the club, adding that he would remain at Brisbane as a club ambassador.
“My son and all my family in attendance is really nice,” an emotional Walters added.
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“And this year, obviously a tough year for everyone, including fans and sponsors and members. So with the club, it’s a great club and I’m sure that they’ll be back challenging again before too long.
“So I want to thank all the staff and that I’ve worked with over the last four years. People on level one, which is where the football staff are and also people upstairs on level two. They’re really good to work with.
“But as I say, unfortunately my time here now has finished from the head coaching point of view. Also I want to thank my family. They’ve been really terrific to me.
“And I just want to thank them and thank everyone else who’s been a part of the journey here. Not so much the last four years, but all my time here at the Broncos. There have been people that have helped me become the person that I am. So, thank you.”
Walters’ comments come as the NRL world was dealt a shock late Thursday night with the news of his sacking, so much so, Broncos players say they had no clue.
Brisbane captain Adam Reynolds said he and teammates were “blindsided” by the decision.
Walters had two years to run on his contract but recognised the need for the Broncos to move in a fresh direction in the off-season.
Many expected the Broncos to compete for a premiership once again, but injuries and off-season departures saw them drop to 12th spot on the NRL ladder.
While the season was less than desirable, club skipper Reynolds, who was brought to the club by Walters, told The Sydney Morning Herald the players found out through the news media.
“We were as surprised as anyone when the news broke – we still haven’t heard anything official,” Reynolds told the publication late Thursday.
“Kevvie is one of the main reasons I came to the club. I’m naturally disappointed. I have a lot of respect for him. I don’t know what else to say until the club communicates with us.
“We’re all trying to find out what’s going on. He’s a great coach and I love his coaching style. It’s been a tough year. Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong.
“We lost four players from last year’s grand final, and me, Reece [Walsh] and Payne [Haas] have been out for long periods this year. Myself and Ezra [Mam] only played a handful of games together this year.
“I’ve tried reaching out to Kev. I feel for him.”
Walters coached 99 first games and recorded 50 wins during his four-year tenure.
The club will now begin a search for a new head coach, with the likes of Josh Hannay, Michael Maguire and Brad Arthur expected to be leading candidates.
Trent Barrett and Ben Te’o had been brought into the club as assistants for the 2025 campaign, with both former Origin players also potential options for the top job.
It marks the end of a lengthy relationship between Walters and Brisbane, with the outgoing coach winning five premierships as a player with the club.