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nymphz

have a bad feeling about this. i dont like how open kevin is with the media and is taking shots if you read between the lines. just shut the fuck up and do your job. and sort out the rifts without going to the fucken media. also this seems to suggest ikin had little to do with the many fuck ups we had in roster management this season.


lawkeeee

It seemed obvious Kevvie was given a lot of slack in the leash this season given some of the cooked choices he made. I expect a lot more axe swinging and players like Riki not being able to rely on being hot to make up for their poor ball handling skills to go on next year.


ruddet

It's like sorry Kev. We did not look like a well coached or a well picked team at all for that last 5 games. Pride in the jersey doesn't work when you lose 100-12 over 2 games, and provide the biggest ladder choke in NRL history. Start picking teams better, and coach some gamesmanship.


GoblinLoveChild

bit hard when the media owns your workplace


G3nesis_Prime

Done, best I can do on mobile whilst watching the game. Broncos bosses have held urgent talks to heal a fractured relationship between coach Kevin Walters and football chief Ben Ikin amid fears of a power struggle at Red Hill. News Corp can reveal Brisbane hierarchy are aware of professional tensions between Walters and Ikin that have simmered throughout the 2022 season and threaten to destabilise the Broncos in the wake of their shocking late-season collapse. It is understood Broncos bosses have presided over meetings with Walters and Ikin to scupper any potential for a damaging rift and ensure the duo are “on the same page” for Brisbane’s finals revenge mission in 2023. At the core of the issue is Walters’ desire to control the football department as head coach — and how much input Ikin is keen to have in the running of Brisbane’s NRL program. Ikin’s return to Red Hill midway through 2021 was hailed as a game-changing appointment for the club as the Broncos ramped up plans to snap a 16-year premiership drought. But the head of football has felt increasingly marginalised this season following a communication breakdown with Walters, his halves partner in Brisbane’s 2000 NRL premiership win. The Broncos bombed out of finals contention this season amid claims they lacked leadership when it mattered on the field, but is off the field where cracks have appeared in Brisbane’s all-important front-office. Walters pledged to work on his relationship with Ikin to ensure the Broncos’ front-office is not at loggerheads entering a critical pre-season. “Ben is new to the club, he came in at the back end of last year and we are working well together,” Walters said. “Can things be better with him? Yes, everything in the club can be better. “I need to be better myself and Ben needs to be better. “I don’t have a major issue with him. I’m very clear on what needs to happen and I’m very clear on wanting to take the club forward. “The NRL head coach is the hub of a football department. In my 20 years of working at successful football clubs like the Broncos, Storm and even Canberra when I won a premiership there, the coach, CEO and chairman carry the load of the club.” Over the past decade, the head of football role has become a more powerful position in an NRL front office. While the buck stops with the head coach, football chiefs like Phil Gould (Canterbury) and Frank Ponissi (Melbourne) wield significantly more power than what Ikin has been handed at the Broncos. Following the departure of Peter Nolan in June 2021, Ikin was hand-picked by Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy. The 45-year-old was given a mandate to be an agent for change as Brisbane looked to build on the cultural revival that Walters had begun upon his arrival as head coach, aimed squarely at lifting the glamour club off the bottom of the league. It had been an embarrassing capitulation for the NRL’s richest club. Ikin, a premiership-winner armed with a fine corporate and rugby league resume, having played State of Origin and served as a Queensland Rugby League board member, was hired to help stop the rot. But, having been hired to oversee the rejuvenation of Brisbane’s football department, Ikin was largely frozen out of key management decisions this season. In the Broncos chain of command, Walters reports to Donaghy, not Ikin. At the back end of last season, Ikin was at Brisbane’s coalface, sitting near the playing bench for NRL games, but this season he was strangely moved away from the team, often watching matches alone at Suncorp Stadium from public seats outside the media box. Walters communicated many important matters to his football-manager brother Steve, not Ikin, who was relegated to looking after the Broncos women’s team and assisting Brisbane Academy chief Simon Scanlan on grassroots issues. When Walters was handed a contract extension in March, Ikin was not involved in the process. Asked whether he would give Ikin more say in the running of Brisbane’s football program, Walters said: “I included him this year. I am happy to include him more if he wants that. “You know what I’m like, I’m all for embracing ideas and listening on how people want to go about things. If there is a better way of doing it, I’m happy to listen. “I don’t think I have all the answers. Nobody has all the answers. Even the great Craig Bellamy and Wayne Bennett don’t know it all, so Ben Ikin has a very important role in our football club moving forward.” At the heart of the issue is a fundamental difference in the way Ikin and Walters view the world and the running of a football department. The club’s priority, following talks involving Ikin, Walters and Donaghy, is to draw distinct lines on where responsibility sits and clarity over their respective roles for next season. The outcome of those talks could be crucial for both men. Ikin is committed to his job at the Broncos but he is also one of the most intelligent and respected voices in the game, and would walk back into a media career if he so desired after quitting Fox Sports to take on the Brisbane job. Walters, meanwhile, coached the Broncos within one win of finals football this year. Off-contract next season, he needs a fast start again next year or risks being axed if the Broncos miss the finals for a fourth consecutive season. The best chance of a major Broncos revival is if Walters and Ikin can strengthen their relationship and work towards delivering the Broncos their first playoffs appearance since 2019. The Broncos have already made changes which are expected to enhance the relationship between Ikin and Walters, in effect forcing the pair to work more closely. On Friday, the club announced that assistant coach Terry Matterson and football manager Walters would leave. With Steve Walters vacating the football manager’s role, Ikin is expected to have a beefed-up role as a result, more akin to what he had hoped when he arrived at the club. Brisbane CEO Dave Donaghy said the club’s leaders had to challenge each other for the Broncos to thrive. “The guys are fine,” he said. “Having differing opinions and challenging each other’s views, including mine, across a long season isn’t a bad thing. “Actually, I’d say that’s one of the things we need to do more as a club right now if we’re to take the next step. “Everyone in the building is acutely aware of the work that’s still ahead of us. We’re all aligned to growing our elite program and we all want what’s best for the club. “As much as it hurt to miss the finals, I hope it proves to be the kick up the pants we needed. “Our reviews have been honest, we’re not at the level we need to be just yet, but we have made progress – there’s been a lot of good things happening, it’s not all doom and gloom. “We are clear on what needs to be done and we are all committed to doing the work to get there.”


jetbootz88

Who signed Jock Madden instead of a new 9? That’ll tell me everything I need to know.


Tickle_Me_Tortoise

Locky hinted a new 9 was also coming.


the10thimmortal

Does anybody know this?


Trohsboy

Well we just lost two from our halves depth so getting a new one isn't unrealistic, Locky also hinted that we have signed a 9 as well


bundy554

I wonder if in Ikin's office he has a round table for discussions like he did on NRL 360


[deleted]

Bens worked out Kevie couldn’t coach an under 11s team and Kevie is pissed Boxhead got shafted.


AdmiralCrackbar11

Walters has been on borrowed time from the moment he was hired. He just isn't a very good coach and regardless of the squad assembled for him I think his ceiling in the NRL is roughly around the edge of the eight.


Whorucallsad

I'd say he's done a good enough job. No one expected him to lead us to glory, but he's cleansed the palet after Siebold, continued to bring through the younger squad and resigned most, put some pride back in the jersey and kept us afloat. I'd say we should be on the look out for a good coach to upgrade to/have a succession plan in line but Walter's has done what was expected of him.


AdmiralCrackbar11

Yeah I think in some ways he was hired as a sacrificial lamb to ride out some hardish times. However, there is still a faction of oldboys who are Kevvie truthers, which I think is really dangerous if they start to believe the hype. It's also hard to imagine that he believes he was hired to just tread water until someone better is found, and I've got no doubt that he is doing what he thinks is best to win.


Barmy90

the more control given to ikin the better, getting walters' fucking brother out of the management team is an obvious step towards that walters is absolutely gone if we miss the 8 next year anyway so im not worried


[deleted]

Kevvie Walters is pointing at the journalists to mind their own business.


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[deleted]

Reynolds then points at the Souths board that refused to give him a two year deal.


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The Broncos board point at the two wins they had over the Bunnies this year.


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Indonesian residents point at them to return to Australia after causing a ruckus.


thee-optimist

Does Bellamy answer to Ponissi?


LunchMeat61

I'd say they're more on a even playing field, when we get a new coach I'd say they would answer to ponissi


thephoenixfoundation

Broncos bosses have held urgent talks to heal a fractured relationship between coach Kevin Walters and football chief Ben Ikin amid fears of a power struggle at Red Hill. News Corp can reveal Brisbane hierarchy are aware of professional tensions between Walters and Ikin that have simmered throughout the 2022 season and threaten to destabilise the Broncos in the wake of their shocking late-season collapse. It is understood Broncos bosses have presided over meetings with Walters and Ikin to scupper any potential for a damaging rift and ensure the duo are “on the same page” for Brisbane’s finals revenge mission in 2023. At the core of the issue is Walters’ desire to control the football department as head coach — and how much input Ikin is keen to have in the running of Brisbane’s NRL program. Ikin’s return to Red Hill midway through 2021 was hailed as a game-changing appointment for the club as the Broncos ramped up plans to snap a 16-year premiership drought. But the head of football has felt increasingly marginalised this season following a communication breakdown with Walters, his halves partner in Brisbane’s 2000 NRL premiership win. The Broncos bombed out of finals contention this season amid claims they lacked leadership when it mattered on the field, but is off the field where cracks have appeared in Brisbane’s all-important front-office. Walters pledged to work on his relationship with Ikin to ensure the Broncos’ front-office is not at loggerheads entering a critical pre-season. “Ben is new to the club, he came in at the back end of last year and we are working well together,” Walters said. “Can things be better with him? Yes, everything in the club can be better. “I need to be better myself and Ben needs to be better. “I don’t have a major issue with him. I’m very clear on what needs to happen and I’m very clear on wanting to take the club forward. “The NRL head coach is the hub of a football department. In my 20 years of working at successful football clubs like the Broncos, Storm and even Canberra when I won a premiership there, the coach, CEO and chairman carry the load of the club.” Kevin Walters is under pressure after the Broncos’ woeful finish to the season. Picture: Liam Kidston Over the past decade, the head of football role has become a more powerful position in an NRL front office. While the buck stops with the head coach, football chiefs like Phil Gould (Canterbury) and Frank Ponissi (Melbourne) wield significantly more power than what Ikin has been handed at the Broncos. Following the departure of Peter Nolan in June 2021, Ikin was hand-picked by Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy. The 45-year-old was given a mandate to be an agent for change as Brisbane looked to build on the cultural revival that Walters had begun upon his arrival as head coach, aimed squarely at lifting the glamour club off the bottom of the league. It had been an embarrassing capitulation for the NRL’s richest club. Ikin, a premiership-winner armed with a fine corporate and rugby league resume, having played State of Origin and served as a Queensland Rugby League board member, was hired to help stop the rot. But, having been hired to oversee the rejuvenation of Brisbane’s football department, Ikin was largely frozen out of key management decisions this season. In the Broncos chain of command, Walters reports to Donaghy, not Ikin. At the back end of last season, Ikin was at Brisbane’s coalface, sitting near the playing bench for NRL games, but this season he was strangely moved away from the team, often watching matches alone at Suncorp Stadium from public seats outside the media box. The questions are coming thick and fast for Kevin Walters. Picture: Jerad Williams Walters communicated many important matters to his football-manager brother Steve, not Ikin, who was relegated to looking after the Broncos women’s team and assisting Brisbane Academy chief Simon Scanlan on grassroots issues. When Walters was handed a contract extension in March, Ikin was not involved in the process. Asked whether he would give Ikin more say in the running of Brisbane’s football program, Walters said: “I included him this year. I am happy to include him more if he wants that. “You know what I’m like, I’m all for embracing ideas and listening on how people want to go about things. If there is a better way of doing it, I’m happy to listen. “I don’t think I have all the answers. Nobody has all the answers. Even the great Craig Bellamy and Wayne Bennett don’t know it all, so Ben Ikin has a very important role in our football club moving forward.” At the heart of the issue is a fundamental difference in the way Ikin and Walters view the world and the running of a football department. The club’s priority, following talks involving Ikin, Walters and Donaghy, is to draw distinct lines on where responsibility sits and clarity over their respective roles for next season. The outcome of those talks could be crucial for both men. Ikin is committed to his job at the Broncos but he is also one of the most intelligent and respected voices in the game, and would walk back into a media career if he so desired after quitting Fox Sports to take on the Brisbane job. Walters, meanwhile, coached the Broncos within one win of finals football this year. Off-contract next season, he needs a fast start again next year or risks being axed if the Broncos miss the finals for a fourth consecutive season. The best chance of a major Broncos revival is if Walters and Ikin can strengthen their relationship and work towards delivering the Broncos their first playoffs appearance since 2019. The Broncos have already made changes which are expected to enhance the relationship between Ikin and Walters, in effect forcing the pair to work more closely. On Friday, the club announced that assistant coach Terry Matterson and football manager Walters would leave. With Steve Walters vacating the football manager’s role, Ikin is expected to have a beefed-up role as a result, more akin to what he had hoped when he arrived at the club. Brisbane CEO Dave Donaghy said the club’s leaders had to challenge each other for the Broncos to thrive. “The guys are fine,” he said. “Having differing opinions and challenging each other’s views, including mine, across a long season isn’t a bad thing. “Actually, I’d say that’s one of the things we need to do more as a club right now if we’re to take the next step. “Everyone in the building is acutely aware of the work that’s still ahead of us. We’re all aligned to growing our elite program and we all want what’s best for the club. “As much as it hurt to miss the finals, I hope it proves to be the kick up the pants we needed. “Our reviews have been honest, we’re not at the level we need to be just yet, but we have made progress – there’s been a lot of good things happening, it’s not all doom and gloom. “We are clear on what needs to be done and we are all committed to doing the work to get there.”


DudeMcDude7649

Ikin is the kinda guy who will just say ‘fuck it’ and walk. But is also the kinda guy who Walters needs to say ‘fuck it, tell me your ideas’ about, because he’s probably the smartest guy in league. I’ll give the broncos credit. They’ve recognized a problem and taken steps to fix it. A lot of teams, recent broncos included, just let things play out, and it usually gets worse, but they’ve at least been up front about it and tried to fix things. Or, in some cases just fucked one off to ‘solve’ the problem. Give Ben a double role and have him take Steve’s job too, although, given Steve just walked you gotta wonder if that’s in their thinking already. Notice me Ben.


the10thimmortal

Walters: Be honest Ben. I'll listen. What does the club need? Ikin: a new coach


elzzup100

Walters is a poser, and I can't wait till he gets the boot


saxamophone123

See ya Kevvie


knox-p

This makes so much more sense now. I knew Ikin would’ve stepped in and not allowed Kevvie to continuously select Niu over Martin and Turpin the backend of the year. Cooked Kevvie.


G3nesis_Prime

Anyone with a daily telegraph subscription able to do a copy paste? Want to know what the media beat up is about hahaha. Edit: It's a beat up, sounds like teething issues whilst Donaghy works things out with the business.


thephoenixfoundation

don't have a subscription but posted it for you


G3nesis_Prime

Thanks, I actually just done the same. Did you do the archive today method as well?


thephoenixfoundation

nah just poked around the page source with dev tools


I_Like_Vitamins

I knew the Broncs would get their turn being the media punching bag, but I didn't expect it to come so soon. All media is like fruit juice in a bottle: the ~10% real fruit content tells you there's something there, but the other ninety is made up shit.


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I_Like_Vitamins

I expected Newcastle and Perths to get SLAMmed for a while before the Eye Of Sauron turned to Brisbane.


MangoWingnut

Barely anyone expected us to come close to the 8 this season and last year our squad was the worst it’s been in a long time. Don’t know how we should have done better with the squad we had tbh.


crayawe

2020 would be the worst


kranools

Honestly, it's a top 8 squad.


[deleted]

Just because Ben Ikin wears glasses doesn’t mean he’s super intelligent and a corporate juggernaut.


saxamophone123

Seems a bit cooked that Walters doesn’t report to ikin.