Kevin Walters has corrected a rumour that was spread during his tumultuous departure from the Broncos following the club’s nightmare year.
The former Queensland State of Origin coach left the club on “mutual terms” after a damning post-season review into the club’s failed 2024 campaign.
The 57-year-old was in tears during his farewell press conference as he walked away without answering questions from reporters.
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Broncos chief executive Dave Donaghy said at the time the five-time premiership player would stay on as a club “ambassador” to ensure his “connection” to the club remained strong.
However, Code Sports now reports Walters is not on the Broncos’ pay roll and now has no official relationship with his former club.
It comes after it was announced on Friday that Walters has been snapped up by Fox Sports.
The former coach has signed on as one of Fox League’s expert analysts for the 2025 season.
He has told Code Sports he will not hold back when commenting on the players he previously coached in Brisbane.
“I’ll call it as I see it,” Walters said.
“If it upsets someone, well, I’m just doing my job.
“You’re ripping off the viewers if you’re not being authentic.
“My views on the Broncos will be the same as my views on the other clubs.
“Sometimes it might piss people off but it’s our job to have an opinion and call things out.
“I’ll be honest, the same as commentators were with me when I was coaching. As long as you’re fair and balanced.”
He says he is concerned by the depth of the Broncos’ roster as new coach Michael Maguire steps into the hot seat.
The sudden appointment of Maguire in September raised eyebrows just days after Walters was sacked.
Walters was given a one-year extension in March, 2024, which should have taken him up to the end of the 2026 season.
After going so close to winning the 2023 Grand Final, the shock of his premature exit was clear to see as he faced the press at the time of his messy exit.
Donaghy’s comments at the time suggest something has changed in the relationship between Walters and the club.
“While he won’t continue as head coach, that connection will continue,” Donaghy said in September.
“Kev will remain an ambassador at the club, which I think is a really important connection for the Broncos and Kevin Walters.”
Walters took over the reigns of the club after the first wooden spoon season in the Broncos’ history.
Just three years later, the Broncos played in it the club’s first Grand Final since 2015 and were likely 20 minutes from hoisting the trophy — until Nathan Cleary got involved.
The heartbreaking 26-24 loss had many pundits tipping the Broncos to go one better in 2024.
At round 11, the Broncos were sitting pretty at fifth on the ladder with a 7-4 record.
But from there it was a shocking fall from grace as the side won just three of 13 matches to finish 12th on the NRL ladder.
Broncos captain Adam Reynolds said at the time of Walters’ exit players had been the players had been “blind-sided” by the news.
The former Rabbitohs star said he “felt” for Walters because had to deal with injuries to key players, including Reece Walsh, Payne Haas, Ezra Mam and himself, throughout 2024.
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