The Broncos entered 2017 with a question mark hanging over their heads, having exited in the second round of the finals in 2016, and having not added any significant gains to their roster.
With Corey Parker retiring at the end of the season, some expected the Broncos to struggle to get into the top eight in 2017. However Wayne Bennett, once again, proved his critics wrong, steering the side to a second place finish.
However, ultimately they came up well short of winning a premiership and, in the three years since Bennett has returned, the club has failed to break through for their first title since 2006.
Season finish
Exited in preliminary final (regular season: third, 16 wins, 8 losses, 597 points for, 433 points against).
Season rating: 8/10
Overall, this was a successful season, despite being blown out 30-0 in the preliminary final by the Melbourne Storm. In typical Broncos’ fashion, they started the season fast, winning five of their first six games, and maintained their spot in the top four throughout the season.
Brisbane were actually one of the more unstructured and entertaining teams of the season, playing some sparkling attacking football with their ball movement and creativity.
Coach rating: 8/10
Wayne Bennett – in a year when not many people had them as title contenders, Bennett managed to get the best out of his roster, steering them to within one game of the grand final. Bennett was also without key players in his spine for large portions of the season, with Darius Boyd, Ben Hunt and Andrew McCullough all missing chunks of football.
McCullough was a particularly cruel blow for the final five rounds, plus the finals, and the hamstring injury to Boyd meant he was nowhere near his best at the pointy end of the season.
Best win
Round 6: Brisbane Broncos 32-8 Sydney Roosters at Suncorp Stadium
The Roosters came into this game with only one loss, but Brisbane blew them away with their line speed in defence and then really threw caution to the wind in attack, moving the ball from side to side in their own half with some spectacular results.
Worst loss
Round 25: Brisbane Broncos 34-52 Parramatta Eels at Suncorp Stadium
This was a bizarre game of football in which the Broncos gave up a number of awfully soft tries. After a great run of form coming into this game, Brisbane found themselves down 18-0 early and never really recovered.
No side has ever won the competition after conceding 50 points in a regular season game, so this was their worst loss of the season given the time of year and the fact it came against a fellow contender.
Best player
Darius Boyd – the captain really led from the front, despite battling some injuries. Boyd is probably the best defensive fullback in the game, alongside Billy Slater, and he was as safe and dependable as ever.
While he is not the most explosive custodian in terms of tries scored, he is a crucial link in attack, racking up a number of try assists and providing a real threat with his passing game on both sides of the field.
(AAP Image/Dan Peled)
Most disappointing player
Adam Blair – there is no doubting his commitment, but Blair gives away cheap penalties and turns the ball over too much for a front rower.
Having signed a three-year deal with the Warriors, it will be a big task for him to help turn around that struggling outfit. Last time he made a big-money move, to the besieged Tigers, he struggled and looked exposed.
2018 prospects
A lot will depend on how Jack Bird fits in and whether he can gel in the halves with a similarly freewheeling player in Anthony Milford.
At first glance, the roster looks strong, but they look like they need at least one more key signing to be contenders.
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