An angry Kevin Walters questioned whether Ben Hunt would want to join the Broncos following their loss to the Titans on Sunday, while his son Billy threw his support behind the possible arrival of the player who could take his starting spot.
In an emotional post-match press conference – following a 18-12 defeat to a Titans side playing under interim coach Jim Lenihan for the first time and without captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui who was rested – the Brisbane coach condemned his side's attitude and suggested the performance could be a deterrent in the club's efforts to sign Hunt for the remainder of the season.
Hunt – who has requested a release from the Dragons, which has so far been denied – has expressed a desire to return home to Queensland and previously played 187 games for the Broncos across a six-year period.
"Do you think he'd want to come to this club after watching that? I wouldn't have thought so," Kevin Walters said when asked about Hunt.
Today was just not who we are as a club... it’s not who we’ve been and I don’t like that team who played today.
Kevin Walters
"I’m angry. I'm angry for the 40,000 people that came here today expecting a bit more, I would have thought."
The potential arrival of Hunt, who is the incumbent Kangaroos and Maroons hooker, would likely see current Brisbane No.9 Billy Walters forced back to the bench.
But the 29-year-old said he'd welcome any such move and offered up a frank viewpoint on the situation.
“I would like to think I go alright, but I think Ben Hunt is a bit better player than me at nine," Billy Walters said.
“I am happy for him to come here.
Walters almost catches the Titans napping
“I am not sure what is going to happen with all of that. I suppose it is not my thing to worry about, but I would quite happily take him.
“I think he would increase our intensity in the comp.
If [Ben Hunt] does come with us it probably won't be long term, so he can probably teach me a few things for the rest of the year that I can take into next year and be a better player for it.
Billy Walters
In falling to the Titans for their fifth defeat of the year, the Broncos missed the opportunity to head into Round 18 at the top of the Telstra Premiership ladder.
Ahead of another Queensland derby on Saturday night, this time against Wayne Bennett's Dolphins, coach Walters implored his side to address their issues.
Match: Broncos v Dolphins
Round 18 -
home Team
Broncos
2nd Position
away Team
Dolphins
14th Position
Venue: The Gabba, Brisbane
"My big focus is this 17 or 30 players we’ve got here at the moment, to get them right for not only next week but beyond that," he said.
"We need to fix it and fix it in a hurry. We haven’t earned the right as a team and a club to come here and put that performance on.
"We’ve got a big eight or nine weeks in front of us. We need to get that right. We got it wrong today and I’m really disappointed with how we got it wrong."
