Brisbane Broncos fans are calling for the return of former football boss Ben Ikin as the once-proud NRL club sinks further into turmoil.
After reaching the grand final in 2023, the Broncos have suffered a dramatic decline, finishing 12th in 2024 and now sitting 11th after 13 rounds in 2025 under new coach Michael Maguire.
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Ikin, now CEO of Queensland Rugby League, was instrumental in the Broncos’ resurgence before his abrupt departure in 2023. His exit followed reported tensions with then-coach Kevin Walters and a reshuffling of internal reporting lines that saw Walters bypass Ikin to report directly to CEO Dave Donaghy.
“I came in expecting to do a certain number of things… some of those things dropped off,” Ikin explained at the time.
Despite efforts to poach Melbourne Storm’s general manager Frank Ponissi last year, the Broncos have failed to fill the leadership void left by Ikin. Fans are growing increasingly frustrated with the club’s direction, voicing outrage on social media and pointing to Ikin’s uncredited role in stabilising the team during his tenure.
“When Ikin was pushed out because Kevvie had his ego bruised, that was the end,” one fan posted, echoing a widespread sentiment that the club’s decline began with Ikin’s exit.
Last October, rumours swirled about Ikin returning after Walters was sacked. His absence from the NRL grand final only fuelled speculation, though Broncos chairman Karl Morris dismissed any leadership shake-up, affirming support for CEO Donaghy:
“We have never had more members and sponsorship… but it’s also about winning on the field.”
With the team now seen as lacking strategic leadership, many believe that a top-down overhaul is essential—and that Ikin is the key. Whether he would be willing to abandon his current role with QRL remains uncertain, but the pressure from fans to bring him back is growing louder by the week.
