Contenders or pretenders?
Broncos fans aren’t sure which is true after the Sea Eagles produced a 32-4 demolition, leaving Michael Maguire’s defending premiers languishing in 11th place on the NRL ladder.
Debutant Joey Walsh, 19, outplayed his superstar namesake Reece Walsh with a commanding performance that included a try and a 40-20.
The Broncos completed at a dismal 47 per cent in the second half, missing 34 tackles as the “Brookvale curse” claimed them for the second year running.
Coach Michael Maguire defended his injury-plagued squad, which has used a league-high 29 players in just 10 rounds, but critics argue the “premiership hangover” is real.
The decision to rush Ben Hunt back from injury backfired, while Ezra Mam’s horror night – missing seven tackles in the first half – has likely ended his immediate Origin aspirations.
Fans have slammed the team as “doughnuts” who are “brittle on the edges and nothing in the middle”.
While some loyalists insist the massive injury toll makes cohesion impossible, the overwhelming sentiment remains that Brisbane faces the real possibility of missing the finals if they don’t turn it around fast.
See what you had to say below and join the conversation >>>
WHAT YOU SAID
The injury excuse v conditioning
NM
The Broncos are missing half their run-on team, including the best prop in the game, their captain, one of the best centres in the game etc. Any and every team would struggle to win a game with so many players out.
Adam
Manly had their 1, 7 and 10 out as well – no excuses mate.
PB
Seems the whole team was not conditioned properly before the start of the season. Hence the heavy injury toll.
Virginia
The number of players unavailable for each club every week is a matter of fact … are all the other teams “not conditioned properly” before the start of the season as well?
Michael
The Brisbane “Doughnuts”! Brittle on the edges and nothing in the middle. More of this to come.
‘The New Joey’ and the Hunt gamble
Live At 5
Life without Haas? What about life without Reynolds? Red Hill will be hoping Pezet or Duffy can run the show because without an organiser Walsh is hit and miss.
CDF
Duffy should have been the 7. Hunt is a waste of time and needs to be told there is no contract for you next year.
Virginia
As Hunt is just returning from injury I think it would have been better to start him on the bench and have Duffy as starting halfback. Manly have played like a different team since Foran took over.
Cheryl
And Hunt wants another contract to hang around. You’re kidding!
Ezra Mam’s ‘brain explosions’
Martin
If Mam plays Origin, I won’t be watching. He’s worth at least 12 points to opposing teams. In the same basket as the Hammer.
J
Sorry but Ezra Mam is a passenger this whole season. He has lost his attacking confidence. Also coach, change the game plan if the big forwards are not available. Run wide.
Kelly
Mam thinks he’s playing for the Denver Broncos not the Brisbane Broncos — most of his passes are forward.
Susan M
Finally a ref who was onto Mam’s forward passes. A great improvement on what normally happens.
PJ
To all the haters out there, it’s OK, we Broncos fans are still basking in the glory of last year which is something you can’t do.
Originally published as Readers blast Broncos’ ‘disastrous’ performance as Joey Walsh masterminds Manly’s Brookvale massacre
