“It can become very lonely when you’re losing”: Walters' advice for Marshall after tough debut season

Brisbane Broncos head coach Kevin Walters has offered advice to rookie coach Benji Marshall as his Wests Tigers stare down the possibility of a third-straight wooden spoon.

The Tigers have lost their last four matches and have conceded at least 40 points in each of those fixtures. This was the reality for Walters when he took control of the Broncos in 2021 when they finished 14th with just seven wins.

Walters said it’s easy to succumb to the external pressure outside the club but urged Marshall and other coaches under the pump to trust their respective processes because the tide will eventually turn.

“I have been involved in various coaching roles over the past 20 years,” Walters told SEN 1170 Breakfast.

“I was yet to experience what happened to the Broncos this year which was losing six games in a row.

“That’s tough going and all sorts of things start to go through your mind.

“Ultimately, you just have to believe in what you’re doing and the players that you have at your disposal.

“If this happened to me in my first year at the Broncos, I’m not sure (how I would’ve managed it).

“I do feel for Benji in his first year. I’m sure he’s got good people around him and that’s what you need as a head coach.

“It can become very lonely when you’re losing because you feel like it’s all coming down on you.

“You need people to take that pressure off and ensure you are headed in the right direction.”

The Broncos have had a lean year with injuries and State of Origin taking their toll and it has resulted in the 2023 Grand Finalists sitting two games outside the top eight.

Walters remains confident that his side can catch fire, secure a finals berth and cause some damage in the finals series.

“I 100 per cent believe in the team that we have,” Walters added.

“We need to keep them on the park first but if we can maintain the team, I’m very confident that we can go one better than last year.

“We don’t have to string 20 good games together. We only have to win five or six and then into finals.

“This team is more than capable of achieving that.”

The Broncos host the sixth-placed Bulldogs this Saturday afternoon.