Here comes Shane Webcke, coming off the back fence just like he did in his playing days, and charging into Brisbane’s decision to part company with fellow Old Boy Kevin Walters.
“Completely and utterly befuddled by it … give Kevvie a chance,” Webcke told SENQ’s Pat and Heals on Friday morning.
And then this from the big prop, at suggestions that Michael Maguire could replace his former teammate.
“Mate, he coaches New South Wales! Spare me that. I’ve got nothing against him, but did we get rid of Kevvie Walters for that? I don’t think so.”
It has been almost two decades since Brisbane last won a premiership. A core group of senior players who delivered it still hold enormous sway at the club. They were part of a concerted campaign to install Walters into the job four years ago, even though it meant getting their hands bloody in toppling his predecessor, Anthony Seibold, to ensure it happened.
While results, or a lack thereof, ultimately conspired against Seibold, the constant undermining by Brisbane’s Old Boys played its part.
Kevin Walters talks about parting with his beloved Broncos.Credit: Getty Images
“I can’t control the agendas behind the scenes,” Seibold told this masthead in the aftermath to his sacking in 2020. “But do you hear any old boys from other clubs criticise as often, or as much, or as loud? Of course, you don’t.”
For too long, Brisbane has been beholden to the Old Boys. Theirs is the loudest voice, amplified by an obliging Courier-Mail newspaper that has their numbers on speed dial. Criticism of the club rarely extends to bagging one of their own, as has been the case with Walters.
Yet something happened late on Thursday night that will test whether they prioritise jobs for the boys above Brisbane’s success. After announcing Walters was “stepping down” by mutual consent, despite still having two years remaining on his contract, one of the first calls Broncos powerbrokers made was to Maguire.
Maguire’s stocks have risen since he missed out on the Broncos job to Seibold at the end of 2018. He led the Kiwis to the top of the summit with a 30-0 rout of Australia in last year’s Pacific Cup finale, before orchestrating an epic, comeback NSW series victory. That it was secured at Suncorp Stadium, the home of the Broncos, should not be lost on those tasked with finding Walters’ replacement.
Former Brisbane coach Kevin Walters on Friday.Credit: Getty Images
Other candidates will have claims. Former Eels coach Brad Arthur, currently coaching English club Leeds, will be interviewed. However, according to sources not authorised to speak publicly, he has one eye on the job that will become available when a Perth-based expansion team enters the league.
The man Maguire bested during the State of Origin series, Billy Slater, could be an option, although the Queensland coach has publicly stated he doesn’t covet a club role.
Josh Hannay, who missed out to Jason Ryles at Parramatta, is another well-credentialled Queenslander; ex-Souths coach Jason Demetriou has NRL experience and has previously been a Brisbane assistant; and Justin Holbrook has added to his CV since finishing at the Titans, while the Broncos are unlikely to have another crack at the contracted Craig Bellamy.
Four-time premiership winning prop Shane Webcke.Credit: Colin Whelan © Action Photographics
Parting with Walters was the right call, but it has already come too late. An independent review told the Brisbane hierarchy what it should have known already; that one finals appearance in four years is totally unacceptable.
Given the club’s state-of-the-art facilities, unparalleled access to juniors, financial clout and strength of roster, this is a franchise that should be winning a premiership at least once every four years, as was the case under Wayne Bennett.
The decision has come too late for the new coach to bring in his own team. The replacement will be saddled with assistants Trent Barrett and Ben Te’o, who have just been employed by a head coach who is no longer there.
Then there’s the issue of whether the newcomer will have the strength to pull into a line a squad accused by some of having rock-star egos.
If results and experience count for anything, then Maguire appears the obvious choice.
The Broncos haven’t won a title in 18 years. No one will forget the Old Boys who made that triumph possible, but if they want to win another one any time soon, they’ll need to get out of the way.
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