Kevin Walters, the head coach of the Brisbane Broncos, has reignited discussions about the need for changes to the State of Origin series, citing its detrimental impact on his team’s NRL finals prospects in 2024. Walters has acknowledged that the interstate series has negatively affected his team’s performance this season. After Origin Game II, he faced criticism for resting key players such as Reece Walsh, Payne Haas, and Patrick Carrigan. This decision followed a loss to the Warriors in New Zealand, which was part of a troubling six-game losing streak. As a result, the Broncos’ chances of making the finals are precariously slim; they must win their remaining three matches and rely on favorable outcomes elsewhere to secure a playoff spot.
Walters has been under intense scrutiny due to Brisbane’s disappointing season, particularly given the high expectations following their grand final appearance last year. The team has struggled with numerous injuries, including an eight-week absence of influential captain and halfback Adam Reynolds due to a pectoral injury, and a prolonged injury list that also includes Walsh and Haas.
The Broncos were significantly affected by the State of Origin period, with players either having to recover quickly from representative games, being rested for key matches, or missing out on games while in camp. Although Walters was criticized for resting his star players, the late-season injuries, particularly to Haas, suggest that his decision may have been justified as the added workload may have contributed to the team’s injury issues.
There has been ongoing debate about modifying the Origin series to ensure that all three games are standalone events, which would prevent top players from being sidelined for their club teams. Ahead of a crucial match against Parramatta, Walters expressed support for finding a better solution to this problem. He highlighted the impact of losing key players for an extended period during the season, which hindered their ability to secure essential wins and consequently affected their end-of-season performance.
Walters also noted that the Broncos have struggled with the worst completion rate in the NRL this season, which has compounded their difficulties. Despite the challenges, he understands the high level of scrutiny that comes with coaching a prominent club like the Broncos and acknowledges the criticism directed at him for the team’s lackluster performance this year.
