Billy Walters has thanked Michael Maguire for allowing him to be a part of NRL grand final week having been handed a special role as the Broncos look to break their premiership drought. Broncos fans were left gutted when it was confirmed Walters would miss the remainder of the season having injured his ACL against the Raiders in their run to the grand final.
Walters has remained upbeat since the injury, which was a devastating blow for the 31-year-old who was enjoying his best NRL season for the club. He has held a pivotal role in leading the side to another grand final, but will be watching on from the sidelines in 2025.
Billy Walters has thanked Michael Maguire (pictured left) for giving him a role and naming him on the extended squad ahead of the NRL grand final after he was ruled out with injury. (Images: Getty Images)
But some fans were surprised when they saw Walters’ name listed in the extended squad. Maguire and the Broncos made the classy gesture for the injured star and he has been unofficially named as a Chief Motivation Officer ahead of the grand final. He was also part of the NRL grand final presentation this week having joined the playing group on stage.
And this wasn’t lost on the humble star. “It’s really nice for Madge to let me be apart of this week as much as I can, as much as I’d like to be out there playing, I still feel like I’m part of it sitting on the sidelines,” he told Nine News.
Walters added he has found it difficult to watch on from the sideline, but is there to help the team. “I had to calm down a bit, can’t distract the boys too much. I’m getting a little bit bored,” he added. “Not getting on the field and training with them, but it’s just helping out as much as I can. Whatever they need…I am trying to help out.”
Walters is a very popular member of the squad and the small gesture already caught the attention of fans who have acknowledged his new role ahead of the Storm battle. Walters is set to miss up to nine months of action and won’t return till nearly half-way through the 2026 season due to his recovery.
But he still has a chance to be a part of a premiership winning side if Reece Walsh and Adam Reynolds can lead their side to glory against the Storm. Walters isn’t the only disappointed Broncos player missing out on the NRL grand final from the squad. Maguire was forced to drop Ben Talty from the side after Patrick Carrigan returned from suspension.
Talty was named in the reserves and will cheer on the side from the sideline with Walters. Unfortunately for Walters, he revealed his father would have loved to the coach leading the club to glory at Accor Stadium in Sydney.
Michael Maguire handed Billy Walters (pictured) the Chief Motivation Officer role ahead of the NRL grand final.
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Kevin Walters to miss NRL grand final
Former Broncos coach and Billy’s father, Kevin, would wish he was the one to end the club’s 19-year premiership drought. Kevin Walters coached the Broncos to the 2023 NRL grand final, but they fell short thanks to a late Nathan Cleary masterclass.
Billy Walters was there in 2023 having started at No.9, but will miss this time around. Despite being a Broncos legend, Kevin will be cheering the side on during the game on Sunday night as a fan.
“I know he’d love to be here, he’s a passionate Broncos man and he built this team to what it is and I know he’d love to be coaching the team on the weekend but that’s just the way footy goes sometimes,” Walters added about his father. “He’s proud, he’s happy for all the boys, he still keeps in touch with a lot of them.”ty