Kotoni Staggs' eye-opening act for Kevin Walters emerges after swipe at ugly Broncos move

Kotoni Staggs has called out the way Kevin Walters was let go by the Broncos at the end of the season after admitting he reached out to his former coach throughout the saga. Walters' axing from the head coach role at the Broncos stunned many in the NRL world and the players themselves were also taken aback.

Captain Adam Reynolds admitted his shock at Walters' axing and claimed most of the playing group found out through the news in the off-season. Only days after Walters' axing, Michael Maguire was announced as the new Broncos coach with the club facing swift backlash over how they handled the drama.

The club has since faced a number of issues with Ezra Mam's controversy dominating the headlines in recent days. And with new coach Maguire addressing the Mam drama, Staggs has broken his silence on Walters' axing and claimed the club did not handle the situation well.

Speaking to 2GB Radio, Staggs felt Walters and the Broncos playing group were not shown the respect they deserved over his exit. The centre claimed he called Walters after finding out to console his former coach.

"I have a good relationship with Kev, I loved playing under him," he said. "He helped me get the best out of my footy. I was pretty down by the way we found out actually, it was off the news, that's not what you want to hear about your coach.

"I gave him a call after it and told him thanks for the last four years I've had, I learned a lot off him and wished him the best for his future. It wasn't the thing I wanted to see on the news ... that's not the right way to go about it I guess but we've got to move on from there."

Adam Reynolds admits shock at Kevin Walters axing

Reynolds was one of the first players to respond to Walters axing at the time and admitted the playing group had no idea Walters' job was on the line. “Like everyone else in the playing group, I certainly didn’t see it coming,” Reynolds told the Courier Mail. “We had no idea. Players weren’t told. I guess things break pretty quick.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t get told as a playing group and most of us found out through the news, but I’ve since spoken to Dave (Donaghy, Broncos CEO) and he addressed the playing group and apologised for it coming out that way. I’ve got a great relationship with Kev. I’m forever thankful for him giving me the opportunity to come up to this club. I loved being coached by him.”

Michael Maguire addresses Broncos culture

While Staggs has reflected on Walters exit, Maguire has already come in and admitted his intentions to change the culture at the club. Currently dealing with the Mam drama, and trying to win over the playing group after Walters' exit, Maguire fielded questions about the club's culture on the back of a string of off-field incidents.

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"It's obviously very well documented that things have been going on and I'll address them as well," he said. "There's certain things that you need to do as a professional player to get yourself to the top. We've all got to own where we are right now and adjust to where we need to get to."