Glenn: Kevin Walters has Broncos ready to fire in NRL finals

September 5, 2023 3:56 pm.by Wayne Heming

Former Brisbane captain Alex Glenn, a member of the last Broncos side to beat the Melbourne Storm 14 years ago, believes Kevin Walters can deliver the club a seventh NRL premiership.

Walters, who won five premierships with Brisbane as a player, came to the Broncos at a time when they were at their lowest, coming off their first wooden spoon and copping criticism from all quarters.

“’Kevvie’ is the heart of this club,” said Glenn, who played 288 games for Brisbane and was captain before he retired in 2021.

“He is the man who can lead the club to the Promised Land in October.

“He was one of the players who laid the foundation and brought success to this club. To have him now steering the ship as a head coach means the world to us players.

“When ‘Kevvie’ talks about this club, he gets emotional, and that’s what this club is all about – we’re all heart and it’s always been this way.

“He knows the culture and what it means to be a player and a Brisbane club man.”

Glenn was a rookie when the Brisbane Broncos beat Melbourne in round two, 2009.

“It was an amazing feeling,” he recalled.

“It helped having Darren Lockyer in our team because he was a guru on the field.

“Eliminating errors, maintaining pressure, and taking good field position, along with being resilient, are the keys.

The Auckland-born Glenn, who played 12 Tests for New Zealand and represented the Cook Islands on 35 occasions, said Friday night would be the real test.

“If they can trump the Storm at home, I don’t think anyone is going to stop them,” he said.

“I know what it is like to have a home final. We beat the Roosters in 2015, it was the best feeling in the world.

“We went into the final against the Cowboys with a lot of confidence and people still say it was the best grand final ever.

“I still find it hard to watch – in fact, I still haven’t watched that game – but I think this team has strike right across the field and power in the forwards to get it done.

“I saw this happening. In order to go through the good times, you have to experience the bad.

Pat Carrigan, who feared a foot injury suffered at training recently would derail his finals campaign, echoed Glenn’s comments about Walters after declaring himself fully fit to play.

“Everyone knows ‘Kevvie’ wears his heart on his sleeve and bleeds for the Broncos,” said Carrigan.

“Guys like him and ‘Alfie’ (Allan Langer) and Wayne (Bennett) are pretty synonymous with what the club means.

“His influence on the group, not just as a coach but bringing everyone together and developing some of us young guys into young men, is probably the most important thing he cares about.

“I know watching those years would have hurt him – it hurt me.

“I’ve kept the receipts and hopefully I can cash them in this year.”

Carrigan left no doubt he and his teammates had the resolve to win the premiership.

“I don’t play 27 games a year and get flogged at Red Hill just to rock up and play one finals game,” he said.

“Melbourne is the same – everyone is the same.

“You are in it to win it, and what better way to do it than in front of 50,000 fans on Friday night?”

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