Broncos coach Kevin Walters has reignited the debate around changing the State of Origin format after admitting the interstate series has hurt his side’s NRL finals hopes in 2024. Walters copped backlash for resting rep stars Reece Walsh, Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan after Origin Game II, with his side going down to the Warriors in New Zealand several days later.

The loss was the fourth in a six-game losing streak that has ultimately left Brisbane’s finals hopes hanging by a thread. The Broncos need to win their remaining three games and hope their closest top-eight rivals slip up if they want to qualify for the playoffs this season. Mathematically it’s not impossible, but it’s unlikely for Walters’ side.

Brisbane’s coach has copped plenty of backlash for the club’s predicament, considering big things were expected of them after last season’s run to the grand final. The Broncos have certainly been rocked by various injuries across the season, with influential captain and halfback Adam Reynolds missing for eight weeks with a pectoral injury and Walsh and Haas also part of a lengthy casualty list this year.

The Broncos were also one of the worst-affected teams during the Origin period, with players either forced to back-up days after playing rep footy, rested for crucial games or missing while in camp for their state. Walters was criticised for resting his stars but late-season injuries to the likes of Haas shows he was perhaps right to do so and that the added workload may have contributed to the team’s injury problems.

Debate has been raging for years about changing the Origin series so that all three games are standalone and the game’s best players aren’t ruled out for their clubs. And speaking ahead of his side’s must-win game against Parramatta on Friday night, Walters agrees that something should be done to address the issue for clubs and their rep stars.

Kevin Walters calls for ‘better solution’ to Origin situation

“We lost our best players over a six to seven week block midway through the season and that’s where we found it difficult this year,” the Brisbane coach told SENQ. “We didn’t have our captain in Adam Reynolds and we had a couple of other good players who weren’t available during injury which makes the well dry.

“It’s a critical part of the year in which you need to win games during that period to set up your end of the year. That’s an area where we failed because we didn’t get the wins on the board as opposed to last year. There must be a better solution there with the State of Origin. They’re not excuses but they are reasons as to why things haven’t gone exactly to plan.”

The Broncos have also not been helped by having the worst completion rate (76%) of any team in the NRL this season. And Walters says he understands the scrutiny that comes with a club as big as the Broncos and the criticism he’s faced for their underwhelming season.

“I’m a realist and I understand the situation with Broncos fans and the media when we aren’t sitting in the eight,” Walters added. “Are we happy with where we are sitting? No. We are trying our best to rectify the situation and get back on target. We are in great hands with a good roster and good people who want success.”

While Walters will have to make do without Walsh (fractured hand) and Haas (foot injury) for Friday night’s do-or-die clash against the Eels at Suncorp Stadium, he will be relieved to have Cobbo back on deck after the outside back’s recent personal struggles. “He’s come back in great shape and he’s been going well at training,” Walters said. “Cobbo has been through a bit in the last month but he seems to be on top of that at the moment. We haven’t seen him in a Broncos jumper for some weeks now so it will be good to see him back.”