Broncos coach Kevin Walters has hosed down claims the club is at war following reports of a pub altercation between his assistant, John Cartwright, and Broncos legend Chris Johns.<\/p>\n
News of a disagreement emerged just a day before Brisbane went down 34-18 to the Cowboys on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Johns, who won a premiership with Walters at the club in 1992-93 and chairs the Broncos Old Boys Club, confirmed he and Cartwright were involved in an incident late last year just weeks into Walters' tenure at Red Hill.<\/p>\n
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Johns had a heated argument which turned into a physical wrestle with Cartwright at the Caxton Hotel according to News Corp.<\/p>\n
Claims Cartwright grabbed Johns by the throat were vehemently denied by the Broncos assistant, who won a premiership with the Panthers as a player in 1991.<\/p>\n
Johns revealed Cartwright took exception to comments he made after the ex-Penrith back-rower spoke glowingly about the Panthers' golden years.<\/p>\n
"I said (to Cartwright), 'At the Panthers you have won one comp, don't compare the Broncos (who have won six premierships) with the Panthers'.<\/p>\n
"Carty got the s–ts and said, 'Don't start bagging my old club'.<\/p>\n
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After accepting the Broncos job Walters described the Broncos as a "fractured" club last season. When asked about the incident between Cartwright and Johns, the new coach denied knowing anything about it and backed Cartwright.<\/p>\n
"I don't know anything about that," said Walters.<\/p>\n
"To my knowledge there wasn't an incident."<\/p>\n
When told that Johns had confirmed an incident took place Walters said:"Well if it did happen, I wasn't there."<\/p>\n
Walters said he wouldn't be discussing the matter with Cartwright, and claimed Johns was at training recently, suggesting the matter is a non-issue.<\/p>\n
The Broncos have endured a win-less preseason with a 22-all draw against Queensland Cup team Wynnum Manly in their opening trial before a disappointing 16-point loss to North Queensland at Redcliffe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"