Bradley Stubbs, renowned for his role as the ‘Coach Whisperer,’ has disassociated himself from the Brisbane Broncos and refuted any claims of involvement in their 2024 season difficulties. Stubbs, a prominent mentor with a history of working alongside top Australian sports coaches, has guided figures like Kevin Walters, Trent Robinson of the Sydney Roosters, NSW coach Michael Maguire, Socceroos head Graham Arnold, and Damien Hardwick, who has led Richmond to three premierships.
Stubbs provided counsel to Walters during the 2019 State of Origin series, where the Queensland Maroons adopted an assertive “expect to win” mindset. Despite their confidence, the Maroons fell short, losing the series 2-1 to New South Wales. Nevertheless, this approach seemed to influence Walters as he continued to coach the Brisbane Broncos.
Recently, Walters expressed strong confidence that the Broncos would overcome their rivals, the Dolphins, and secure a spot in the NRL finals. This assertion sparked speculation that Stubbs might have been advising Walters again, applying the same motivational tactics from 2019.
In response, Stubbs took to social media to clarify that he is not currently involved with Walters or the Broncos. He stated that if he were working with Walters, the team would be performing significantly better, presumably in the top two of the league standings. Stubbs also expressed his good wishes for Walters and the team’s future success.
The Broncos’ chances of making the finals are dwindling after a recent dramatic loss at Suncorp Stadium, which jeopardized their season. Following this defeat, Walters struggled to provide a clear explanation for the team’s poor performance. In a tense post-match press conference, Walters became defensive when questioned about the team’s frequent heavy losses, including a significant defeat to the Bulldogs. His reaction to the journalist’s query was confrontational, indicating frustration and a lack of answers.
This outburst contributed to a growing perception among fans that Walters’ tenure as head coach may be in jeopardy. Social media has been abuzz with criticisms suggesting that Walters has run out of ideas and is losing the support of the players. Comments such as “Kevy has run out of ideas” and “a coach with no answers” reflect the sentiment that Walters’ approach might be failing.
The Broncos now face the prospect of relying on the Gold Coast Titans to defeat the Newcastle Knights in their upcoming match. If the Knights win, the Broncos will be mathematically eliminated from finals contention, marking a disappointing end to their season.
