Broncos captain Adam Reynolds has addressed criticism from club icon Gorden Tallis, who criticized Reynolds for allegedly not supporting beleaguered coach Kevvie Walters amid the team’s disappointing end to the 2024 season.
Tallis directed his criticism at Reynolds, accusing him of failing to back Walters during the Broncos’ struggles as they missed the finals and endured a heavy 40-6 loss in the Brisbane derby, which concluded their season prematurely. Despite the criticism, Reynolds opted to respond thoughtfully, choosing not to engage in a heated public dispute with the former Broncos captain and premiership winner.
In his response, Reynolds acknowledged Tallis’s right to his opinions but emphasized his own stance. “It’s his opinion. He’s entitled to his opinion,” Reynolds stated on Monday. He mentioned his recent radio appearance where he defended Walters and reiterated his support for the coach. Reynolds praised Walters for bringing him to the Broncos and providing him with a significant opportunity at the club. He expressed gratitude for Walters’s role in his career and voiced confidence in Walters’s leadership.
Reynolds highlighted Walters’s dedication and passion for the club, noting that these qualities should inspire the players. He firmly believes Walters is the right person for the job, citing his successful track record both as a player and a coach. Reynolds is committed to following Walters’s guidance and rallying the team around him.
Tallis, on the other hand, suggested that Reynolds should have been more outspoken in his support of Walters. On Triple M’s Sin Bin program, Tallis expressed disappointment that Reynolds remained silent while Walters faced mounting pressure. He criticized Reynolds for not demonstrating solidarity, especially when Walters had defended him publicly. Tallis argued that if one of his teammates had declined to participate in media engagements, he would have expected the team to present a united front, which he felt was lacking from Reynolds.
Tallis also blamed Reynolds and the team for their poor start to the 2024 season, pointing to incidents like a drunken wrestling altercation involving Reynolds and teammate Patrick Carrigan. Tallis implied that such issues contributed to the team’s disappointing performance and noted a lack of accountability from the players themselves.
Despite Walters being under contract until 2026, there has been speculation about his future due to the Broncos’ decline. However, Tallis dismissed these concerns, arguing that Walters was close to winning a premiership and that his job security should not be in question. He stressed that the responsibility for the team’s performance rests with the players and emphasized the need for them to own their shortcomings.
Tallis believes the root of the Broncos’ issues in 2024 lies in a deficiency of hunger and spirit within the squad rather than coaching shortcomings. He recounted experiences from his own career, including confrontations and intense training sessions, which he believes fostered team cohesion and success. Tallis argued that success is built on hard work, discipline, and strong relationships among teammates, traits he feels are currently missing from the Broncos.
In his view, the Broncos need to adopt a more rigorous approach to training and team unity, akin to the standards he experienced with past successful teams. He referenced the example of the Penrith Panthers, noting their success is a result of their hard work and mutual trust.
Tallis concluded by urging the Broncos players to address these internal issues, emphasizing that overcoming their current challenges will require a collective effort to rebuild team spirit and commitment.
