A handful of Broncos players who have gone “missing” have been urged to lift, as Brisbane look to turn their stuttering NRL season around.
Reece Walsh’s injury and Michael Maguire’s hard-nosed coaching style are the least of the Broncos’ worries, according to several footy commentators.
Brisbane takes on the Dragons on Sunday at Suncorp Stadium as the Broncos aim to get their season back on track heading into the State of Origin period, where they will be without several players.
Fox League commentator Warren Smith told news.com.au Brisbane’s forward pack has not been firing on all cylinders, highlighting Kobe Hetherington, Jordan Riki and Brendan Piakura as players that need to lift.
“Other than Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan, I think they’re just missing running metres from the rest,” Smith said.
“Players like Jordan Riki for mine has been you know much quieter than he has been in seasons past — there doesn’t seem to be a lot happening for him on that right-hand side of the field.
“It’s still sort of in between Brendan Piakura and Xavier Willison as far as the other side, on the left edge.
“And Kobe Hetherington isn’t known as a ‘metres man’ as Carrigan was in that 13 role, they seem to lack a bit of punch at times through the middle other than the big two (Haas and Carrigan).
“They’re missing a bit of spark as well. I think Adam Reynolds and Ben Hunt are very similar players, it doesn’t take a great footy brain to work that out.
“I think they are maybe too similar together if they are to be a premiership threat, especially without Reese Walsh floating around the back for either of them on those sweep plays and to be the option out the back.”
Ezra Mam has been named to make his return from suspension this weekend at five-eighth in place of Hunt, who injured his hamstring in last week’s narrow loss to the Rabbitohs.
“Walsh coming back might change things, but I think Ezra Mam’s inclusion is probably timely,” Smith added.
“No matter what you think about his suspension and how long it should have been, he’s available and they were always going to pick him pretty quickly once he was available.
“I think they just need that bit of spark, that bit of X-factor that he provides.
“You know Ben Hunt obviously can’t run with Ezra Mam, he’s nowhere near as quick as Ezra Mann and probably doesn’t have the line breaking ability that Ezra Mam does at this stage of his career.
“So I think with Mam back, it’ll certainly add something to their attack and likewise when Walsh returns.
“But I think they are still just missing a bit of grunt in the middle as far as run metres. We know if you win the run metres tally week in, week out, you’ll win about 70 to 75 per cent of those games.”
Payne Haas has cemented his status as one of the best props in the NRL, but the rest of the Broncos pack is yet to fire in season 2025.
Carrigan told news.com.au ahead of Magic Round he wasn’t quite satisfied with his own.
“Personally, I know I’m capable of a lot more,” said Carrigan, who has switched from lock to prop this season.
“Just trying to find the balance and consistency for how we all work together as a pack consistently. It’s just a week-on-week thing. I want to keep getting better.
Broncos legend Gorden Tallis said on NRL 360 on Tuesday Carrigan “isn’t big enough” to be playing prop, preferring he plays at lock.
“They are lacking in the finer details at the moment. The Broncos don’t need to reinvent the wheel, but they need to be more diligent in those finer smaller areas of the game.
“If that means Payne and Patty doing four less runs each and running some decoys, then that’s what they need to do.
“There’s no doubt they are still getting used to his coaching but they are 10 rounds in now.
“The year they made the grand final, Jordan Riki was the best kick chaser in the comp.
“I want to see Brisbane players doing smaller things like leading the kick chase down the field. The things that show the commitment of a team.
“I don’t see the guys on the same page at the moment.”
“When the Broncos are up and rolling, they look like the only team that can stop the (Melbourne) Storm,” veteran journalist Andrew Webster told NRL 360 on Tuesday.
Speaking to news.com.au, Broncos halfback Adam Reynolds said his side needs to find consistency if they are to improve after starting the season with five wins and five losses.
“Obviously, the results have been a bit mixed up and down, but that’s one the joys of rugby league,” said Reynolds, speaking in his capacity as ambassador and investor in Australian underwear brand Step One.
“It’s a constant battle to try and achieve that consistency and something that we’re trying to achieve. It is a long season and there’s going to be plenty of opportunities to get it right.
“Every week is important, the competition is so tight, we just need to make sure that we continue trying our best to get better each and every day and working hard at training. “Obviously you can do the little things right and still not get the results but in time nothing will change. We’ve just got to stick by one another, believe in the system that the coaches put in place and just go after it.”
“We know we’re capable of playing good football.
“It’s just about getting out there and doing it. And that’s what we’re chasing. We’re trying to turn up every day with a good mentality to get better.
“I don’t see why we can’t propel ourselves back to the top.”
Reynolds is out of contract at season’s end and his strong form could see a handful of role players leave the Broncos in a salary cap squeeze.
“The manager’s working with that in the background,” Reynolds said of his contract situation.
“I’m not too worried about it. I know there’s been a lot of talk and whatnot, but for me, I’m just trying to focus on my footy and get the wins for the Broncos.”