LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
In a shocking turn of events, former Brisbane Broncos player Shane Webcke has come out swinging, claiming that the decision for Kevin Walters to part ways with the club was not as mutual as the Broncos would have us believe.
Dismissing the club's statement that Walters had "stepped down" as coach, Webcke insisted that Walters would have relished the opportunity to steer the team back on track.
The Broncos made the announcement on Thursday night following a tumultuous season in 2024, where the team plummeted from the heights of the grand final to finishing a disappointing 12th and missing out on the finals altogether.
According to reports, the Broncos cited the toll the season had taken on Walters and his family as the reason for his departure.
However, sources close to the situation reveal that the decision to oust Walters was primarily due to the team's underperformance and a scathing review of the season.
Peter Badel of The Courier Mail stated that there were major concerns about the club's standards and a decline in performance, leading to Walters becoming the sacrificial lamb in the club's bid to enact change.
In a swift and ruthless move, the Broncos opted to part ways with Walters, despite CEO Dave Donaghy previously assuring Walters of his future as coach.
Donaghy expressed gratitude for Walters' contributions over the past four years but ultimately succumbed to the pressures of the independent review's findings.
It seems that in the world of Rugby League, loyalty can be as fickle as a bouncing ball on the field, with decisions made in the best interest of the team's success.