An emotional Kevin Walters has thanked his family, the original club owners and the entire Brisbane Broncos organisation following his shock exit from the NRL club.
Walters fronted a packed Broncos headquarters on Friday while the club hit the headlines for another reason, after it was revealed the NRL Integrity Unit was investigating an off-field incident involving Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam.
The five-time Broncos premiership winner will not return for a fifth campaign in charge with his contract cut short with two years remaining.
An independent review into the club took place immediately after the 2024 season, with the Broncos deciding they needed a change at the top.
"I am really proud of the fact that when I arrived here the club wasn't in great shape. I feel that myself, along with a lot of other good staff and people here, have shaped the club.
"I'd like to thank the original owners of the club Barry, Paul, Steve and Gary, for initially starting the club.
"Probably the proudest moment was last year's grand final, my son and all my family in attendance.
"I want to thank my family. They've been really terrific to me, and just want to thank them," Walters concluded while fighting back tears.
Club CEO Dave Donaghy said Walters had injected a 'pulse' back into the club during his tenure.
But he said when peeling back a post-mortem of their 2024 campaign and missing the NRL finals for the third time in four years, the club's hierarchy believed they could be better.
"The reality is for us that we acknowledge as an organisation, as a club, we can be better. We can do better," Donaghy said.
"Kev wears his heart on his sleeve, and he's done an incredible job over the past four years, but as we've had time to digest and process the season, look at plans moving forward, both of us have come to that acceptance that it was time to part ways, and Kev's time as head coach had concluded."
Walters assumed the Brisbane head coaching role in 2021 with the Broncos winning seven matches and losing 17 in his maiden year at the helm.
That was a four-win improvement on their 2020 campaign when Brisbane spluttered to a last-placed finish and the wooden spoon.
Brisbane then narrowly missed out on finals in 2022 before a famous 2023 season saw them catapult to the NRL grand final where they led Penrith 24-8 only to fall 26-24 on the back off a heroic showing by Nathan Cleary.
Building into 2025 after assistant coaches Lee Briers and John Cartwright announced their departures from the club, Walters had recruited Ben Te'o and Trent Barrett as assistants for next season.
Donaghy confirmed both would remain in their roles.
He said the intent of the club was to "move quickly" on recruiting a new head coach.
Josh Hannay, after missing out on the Parramatta job to Jason Ryles, has impressed in multiple interim NRL head coaching roles and as a Queensland State of Origin assistant.
NSW State of Origin coach Michael Maguire, a premiership winner with Broncos captain Adam Reynolds and Te'o at Souths, is expected to be another leading contender.
Meanwhile, the NRL was made aware of an incident involving Broncos duo Walsh and Mam during their off-season trip to Bali.
Reports emerged on Friday morning a complaint had been lodged with the NRL, the complainant alleging their phone had been taken by Mam after requesting a selfie with Walsh.
The Broncos declined to comment when contacted by AAP but confirmed they were aware of the situation.