EXCLUSIVE: Joey puts deadline on Kevvie's career as coach faces grim fate over Broncos mess

League legend Andrew Johns believes Kevin Walters has as little as six weeks to save his job next season.

Walters is contracted to coach Brisbane until the end of 2026, after the club handed him an extension in March this year.

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But the Broncos have now missed NRL finals for a third time in Walters' four years at the helm.

The team went within a try of winning last year's premiership but otherwise has been disappointing under the tutelage of the club legend.

The Broncos had won three of 14 games in 2020 before sacking Anthony Seibold as coach.

Johns believes Walters faces the same fate next year unless he can find a way to turn their fortunes around.

"They've been really disappointing," Johns told Wide World of Sports' Freddy and the Eighth.

"He is under pressure, without a doubt. But I think he will have a stay of proceedings until next year.

"They will probably give him a couple of months, six to eight weeks. Then if they're not firing you know what's going to happen."

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Broncos board member and fellow Red Hill legend Darren Lockyer this week confirmed all aspects of the club will be probed in a "brutally honest" end of season review.

It is unlikely to lead to the immediate sacking of Walters, given he came within a whisker of breaking their 18-year premiership drought little more than 12 months ago.

The coach also has staunch support from his former teammates. Gorden Tallis leapt to the defence of Walters on radio this week and instead turned the blowtorch on captain and halfback Adam Reynolds.

The ageing playmaker missed half this season through injury, but was also extended by the Broncos and is contracted to play again next year.

Johns - arguably the greatest No.7 ever - has doubts Reynolds will find his best form again.

"How's he going to stay on the park next year? He's another year older," Johns said.

"It's hard to say. But imagine how much kicking he has done over his life - that's a big part of his game, goal kicking, general play kicking.

"Your body just can't withstand it. His body has come to the end."

And Brad Fittler is concerned Brisbane has failed to future-proof the club for when Reynolds isn't able to continue.

"Where is the pathway? I just haven't seen a progression," Fittler told Freddy and the Eighth.

"Ezra Mam keeps saying he wants to play halfback, I haven't seen him play halfback. I can't see their progression.

"They had the perfect opportunity this year if they had that in place."

The Broncos finish their 2024 season against Melbourne on Thursday night.