Brisbane Broncos coach Kevin Walters speaks to media after ...

A tearful Kevin Walters has urged fans to stick with the Brisbane Broncos after the club announced he would no longer be head coach. 

Walters, along with club CEO Dave Donaghy addressed the media in Brisbane on Friday, with both claiming the decision to part ways was mutual.

After making it to the NRL grand final in 2023 under Walters, the Broncos suffered a collapse in 2024.

The team finished a lowly 12th and out of the finals, a poor result for a team expected to be a top contender again. 

Walters described the grand final appearance, where the team surrendered a 16-point second half lead to fall to Penrith, as his proudest moment after taking over a team who had finished the 2020 season with the wooden spoon.

"I am really proud of the fact that when I arrived here, the club wasn't in great shape," Walters said.

"I feel myself, along with a lot of other good staff and people here have shaped the club.

"The proudest moment was last year's grand final, with my son and all my family in attendance."

Injuries hampered the Broncos in 2024, but a string of poor performances in the middle of the season sealed the team's fate of missing finals. 

Brisbane had bright moments, including winning both matches against the North Queensland Cowboys, but a pair of defeats to the Gold Coast Titans and a flogging by the Dolphins with their season on the line were a sad reflection of a disappointing year. 

"This year, obviously a tough year for everyone including fans and sponsors and members," he says.

"Stick with the club. It's a great club and I am sure they will be back, challenging again, before too long."

Brisbane's announcement that Walters would no longer coach came as a shock, with the club legend having two years remaining on his contract. 

A season review from the club was the catalyst for Brisbane making the sudden decision to part ways with Walters, who Donaghy said would remain involved with the club as an ambassador. 

Following Walters's address to the media, Donaghy fielded questions as the spotlight was shone on the organisation.

Donaghy repeatedly said the decision was mutual between the club and Walters despite few indicators that the now-former coach did not want to lead the Broncos in 2025.

"He's [Walters] done an incredible job over the past four years," Donaghy said.

"But as we've had time to digest and process the season, look at plans moving forward, we've come, both of us have come to that acceptance it was time to part ways."

With pre-season usually starting around November for some clubs, the CEO said the organisation was working swiftly to find their new coach. 

"There's an onus on me, and others in the organisation, to really get the whip out and move quickly," he said.

"We understand pre-season is a big, important part of the program."

Donaghy did not say if Brisbane had any possible candidate in mind.