Brisbane legend takes aim at Broncos’ ‘TikTok’ stars as finals hopes hang by a thread

Two-time Brisbane Broncos premiership star and former Old Boys chairman Chris Johns has taken aim at the club’s players and defended Kevin Walters in the process as the team’s finals hopes hang by a thread.

Brisbane were embarrassed in front of their home fans last weekend with the Canterbury Bulldogs dominating the Broncos on their way to a 40-18 victory at Suncorp Stadium.

The result means Walters’ side almost has to win all of their games to have a chance of playing finals football, a year after going within minutes of winning the club’s seventh premiership against Penrith in 2023.

While pressure is mounting on Walters in his fourth season as head coach, Johns said the players needed to take most of the responsibility.

“A couple of weeks ago I saw them and saw the media start to turn a bit and say Kevin Walters is under pressure, Kevin Walters is under pressure. Kevin Walters shouldn’t be under pressure,” he said on SENQ Mornings.

“He’s put the squad together, he’s preparing them, if you talk to any of them and go to their training sessions and look at what he’s putting them through, they couldn’t be in any better physical condition, they couldn’t be better in game plans and knowing what’s going to happen – it’s just their intent, it’s their desire.

“The players have got to answer that… Why point the finger at the coach, start pointing the finger at some of the superstars and say hey listen, you just went in and got a massive upgrade.

“You might be No.1 on Instagram and No.1 on TikTok but are you No.1 with your football mate that you’re playing with on the field.

“I think they’ve been reading a few too many newspapers and Jack Gibson had a great saying, too many pats on the back put you to sleep.”

Johns, who resigned as Old Boys chairman in 2021 over the treatment of Walters after Ben Ikin was appointed head of football at the Broncos, said the players needed to look at each other in the eye.

“I think the players have got to be locked in a room, get Kevvie out of the room, get them to start looking at each other and ask themselves a question,” he said.

“Do you really think you’re having a dig, do you really think we’re playing to our potential.

“I know the coach’s job is to prepare those players and create an environment for those players to do that but it’s really at the players feet, they have really got to get together and take a good, hard look at themselves.”

The Broncos travel to the Gold Coast to take on the Titans on Saturday with kick-off at 3pm.