Brisbane great Willie Carne says the Broncos must not only accept Kevin Walters’s help but also reconnect with more players from their golden era to help inject pride back in the jersey.
Carne backed former captain Walters’ offer to assist under-fire coach Anthony Seibold after the Broncos slumped to five straight NRL losses.
But the two-time premiership-winning winger hopes Brisbane go one step further and throws the welcome mat out for more club greats, claiming the Broncos powerbrokers had shunned their “old boys” in the past.
Carne said he and other past players would love to be more involved with the current squad but claimed they had been shut out.
Carne said strict health protocols could prove a hurdle at the moment.
But he hoped in future Broncos “old boys” who turned the club into a six-time premiership-winning powerhouse would be allowed to interact more with players, helping them follow in their footsteps.
“It would be nice to be invited back and help unite the club that we helped build,” Carne told AAP.
“The Broncos have never done that. They don’t want the old boys in there – I don’t understand that.”
In the meantime, Carne said Walters could provide the spark the Broncos desperately need.
Critics have called for Walters to replace Seibold, who is 18 months into a five-season deal, after Brisbane slumped to second-last following their embarrassing 30-12 last-round loss to battlers Gold Coast.
Walters on Sunday re-signed as Queensland coach until the end of 2021, seemingly ending speculation he could depose Seibold.
But Walters, who was a Broncos assistant under Wayne Bennett in 2018, said he was happy to help Seibold in their time of need.
Asked what he could offer, Walters told Sky Sports Radio: “Just lift the spirits of the group somehow, provide a bit of unity.
“They have enough talent in that group to be sitting much higher on the table.
“They have to believe in themselves, work hard and get it rolling in the right direction.”
Seibold appears to need all the help he can get ahead of Brisbane’s round-eight clash with Warriors at Gosford on Saturday.
While Brisbane chairman Karl Morris on Sunday said they were in for the long haul with Seibold, the embattled mentor is desperate for a win after his side reached a new low last round.
Brisbane were booed off the ground by their own fans at halftime against the Titans.
They are now the most ill-disciplined team in the competition (conceding 7.7 penalties per game), have the worst for-against points record in their club history and have the most players charged – eight – by any NRL team this year.
Back-rower Joe Ofahengaue is the latest, facing a three-game ban for a shoulder charge.
Their attitude has also been questioned with some players seen laughing and high-fiving Titans opponents on the field after their last-round shocker.
Broncos great Steve Renouf admitted Seibold’s days appeared numbered.
“The players are like Brown’s cows,” he told AAP.
“They don’t have any idea of what is going on. They look lost.
“Something has to change and you would think that starts with the coach.”