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Can the Broncos beat the mid-season blues?

Roar Rookie
14th July, 2016
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Would the Broncos have won if there was a captain's challenge? (AAP Image/Dan Peled)
Roar Rookie
14th July, 2016
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Starting the 2016 season, Brisbane were firing. Like many I thought it was only a two-horse race for the premiership between Cowboys and Broncos, with a slim chance to Cronulla.

They grabbed top spot having won seven out of eight games, with the only loss being by one point against Penrith.

With the fast start, Anthony Milford was rising in the Dally M leader board continuing his impressive form from last year. Milford was also in the top try scorers list, which is unusual for a five-eighth. This showed his eye for the line and determination to carry the team.

Brisbane were one of the best attacking and defensive teams in the comp.

However the shining light soon become dull as they only managed to win two from their last seven matches, dropping from first to sixth.

For Broncos fans, this isn’t surprising. In the Origin period, with six of their stars being selected for Queensland, and others being hit with key injuries like Andrew McCullough, Alex Glenn, Jordan Kahu and Jack Reed.

Missing their consistent hooker McCullough, Brisbane have struggled to keep pressure on teams throughout the whole 80 minutes. Andrew can provide a early tackle count kick to the corner to put the opposition on their heels and even provide a 40/20 at times.

Milford and Ben Hunt have fallen short of good performances that fans are used to.

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With Round 19 about to begin, it will bring the end to the rep period with the Origin stars being back in the team every week from here on in. Getting back into a routine will help the Broncos regain lost form.

To regain premiership contender status, forwards like Adam Blair and Josh McGuire will need to keep stepping up. Whether that comes in the form of run metres or offloads it doesn’t matter they just need to spark something for their team.

With Hunt having an average season, he will need to start performing at his scintillating best that was on show all of last season. One thing is for sure, Darius Boyd is in the best form of his life, keeping the Broncos in order from the back.

The key to turning their season around is their defence. As seen in the games against Melbourne and the Bulldogs, Brisbane let in more than 40 points. With Wayne Bennett being a defensive-minded coach there is no doubt he will turn their lacklustre defence back into the brick wall it once was.

The Broncos will finish in fourth spot, with five of the last eight games against teams currently in the bottom eight.

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