Kevin Walters is the first Brisbane coach apart from Wayne Bennett to lead a Broncos side to a grand final - and club legends insist it is no fluke.
Bennett has helmed the Broncos to all their seven season-deciders and won six but Walters, who won five titles as a player under the master coach, has defied his critics to also prove he has the coaching nous and man management skills to get the club back where it should be.
The 55-year-old took over in 2021 after the side sank to an all-time low of wooden spooners and will now coach the Broncos in the NRL grand final against Penrith on Sunday.
Former Broncos centre Chris Johns, who won two titles alongside Walters and under Bennett in 1992 and 1993, told AAP that his old teammate had proved there was far more to him than the Ipswich larrikin he has often been perceived to be.
"Because he has that nice personality, people think that is a weakness," Johns said.
"He is not like a cranky, old Wayne Bennett or a Phil Gould … but that doesn't mean he's not an amazing coach.
"Kevvie has well and truly shut everyone up and no-one could ever question what he is about and who he is."
Johns said Walters had a track record of improving footballers, as he has done with every current Broncos player from fullback Reece Walsh through to No.17 Keenan Palasia.
"You can go back to the last time they made a grand final in 2015 when Kevvie was assistant coach and he did an amazing job with Anthony Milford and Ben Hunt," Johns said.
Walters' twin Kerrod Walters, who also won back-to-back titles at hooker, had a message for his brother.
"To coach Kevvie - on behalf of all Broncos supporters - thanks for giving us a team we can be proud of again," he said.
"Wayne's success has been phenomenal at the Broncos but who knows what Kevvie's success is going to be like," Kerrod added.
"He has got them to a grand final in three years. It took Wayne five years.
"Kevvie has done a fantastic job to mould this group of young men into premiership candidates.
"Every game they turn up and have a red hot crack. They are very skilful and entertaining to watch. That is Broncos culture."
Walters retired as a player in 2001 and had aspirations to be a Broncos coach ever since. He went to Brisbane and Melbourne as an assistant and overseas to Catalans as a head coach.
"He just has to win the big dance now and if he does that he ticks all the boxes," Kerrod said.
"We won five comps in the first 13 years. The Broncos shouldn't be judged on how much money they have got in the bank. They should be judged on premierships."
Kerrod said his brother learnt off Bennett how to mould a premiership-winning team.
"When he took this team over they were shot ducks," he said.
"They had so much potential but they got the wooden spoon. They have come from 16th (in 2020) to a grand final. That is phenomenal.They all believe in the path forward."
