Broncos director Darren Lockyer has addressed talk that head of football operations Ben Ikin left the club due to a fractured relationship with coach Kevin Walters.
Speaking on Wide World of Sports QLDER, Lockyer was adamant that it was “not an ugly split at all” pointing to the Broncos’ ladder position as proof that the working relationship between the pair was professional throughout.
Ikin joined the Broncos midway through the 2021 season in an appointment that was trumpeted as a huge coup for new CEO Dave Donaghy as he attempted to stabilise a football department that had rotted in the latter stages of his predecessor Paul White’s chief executive tenure.
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During his two years at the club Ikin oversaw a huge improvement in results, with the Broncos occupying the top four for much of 2022 before a disastrous post-Origin slump cost them a spot in the finals. He leaves his post with the club two points clear at the top of the ladder and with its first realistic shot at winning a premiership since its last grand final appearance in 2015.
Despite the on-field turnaround, speculation has persisted for the last 12 months that Ikin and Walters were not on good terms and that narrative has been rolled out again this week as it was announced that the football boss would be leaving to take the vacant CEO role at Queensland Rugby League.
Speaking on QLDER Wally Lewis, who is a regular at Broncos training sessions and games in his capacity with Nine, said he had never seen any signs of a rift between Ikin and Walters.
Lockyer said Ikin’s exit was no more complicated than an opportunity to tackle a fresh challenge.
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“Both men are there for the same purpose, to make the Broncos the best they can be,” Lockyer said. “They’re there to serve the Broncos and do what’s in the best interests of the club. They were very professional about all that so it’s not an ugly split at all.
“I just think Ben has done a job there and there’s another opportunity and another bigger challenge for him out there and he’s going to have a crack at it.”
Lockyer said the Broncos would need to get moving to fill Ikin’s role, but added that the club could continue to operate effectively without a head of football operations in the short term.
He said the likes of the club’s head of recruitment Simon Scanlan, who Lockyer credited alongside Ikin and Walters for the Broncos’ turnaround, would need to step up and take on extra responsibilities until Ikin’s role was filled.
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“It doesn’t need to be quickly replaced, people in the building will pick up some slack there for a short period of time and then the CEO Dave [Donaghy] I assume will go to market to get who he thinks is the next best person to fill that role.”
“It doesn’t need to be quickly replaced,” added Lewis.
“What it has to be is clear and understood by all of the players (Ikin’s departure) and then just quickly get it out of the way, concentration is on their performances week in, week out.”
The Broncos kick off round 11 with a visit to AAMI Park to play the Storm in Melbourne on Thursday night.
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