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They are a young, rebuilding team with a lot of promising talent. The Broncos finished eighth last season and will be in the mix for the finals this year.
Still, it’s an unfamiliar position for a club that has won six premierships, four minor minor premierships and has never won a wooden spoon in its history, to be in.
Brisbane are used to being one of the heavyweights, one of the dominant forces of the competition.
It’s been that way since they were formed in 1987 as Queensland’s flagship club. Since then, names like Wally Lewis, Wayne Bennett, Allan Langer, Steve Renouf, the Walters brothers, Gordon Tallis, Darren Lockyer, Shane Webcke, Brad Thorn and Petero Civoniceva have been seen in Broncos colours.
They are used to being favourites, being top dogs. They are used to dominating Queensland and Australian rep teams.
But the rugby league landscape, indeed the Queensland footy environment, has changed a lot in the past few years.
The Broncos remain the benchmark for off-field success in the NRL – the only club to make a profit, with an enviable brand that is potent in terms of sponsors and ratings.
But on the field there has been an ever-so slight slide in the past few years.
The departure of Wayne Bennett in 2008, the Ivan Henjak drama and the retirement of Lockyer in 2011 were all blows. The introduction and infiltration of the Cowboys and Titans has somewhat eroded the Broncos immense power to have their pick of best talent in the sunshine state.
As this article suggests strong competition has come from other NRL clubs.
Queensland gems that in the past might have ended up in Brisbane, like Ben Barba or Daly Cherry-Evans, have gone south. The Broncos recruitments ranks have changed with the losses of Paul Bunn and long-time Bennett partner in crime Cyril Connell.
In the past three seasons the Broncos have finished eighth, third and tenth. From 1992 until 2010, Brisbane had never missed the semis.
The Broncos still have some big-name stars in their ranks (Justin Hodges, Ben Hannant, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker), not to mention exciting young players (Dale Copley, Matt Gillett, Alex Glenn, Josh Hoffman, Ben Hunt, Andrew McCullogh, Casey McGuire, Corey Norman, Jack Reed, Jharal Yow Yeh) and seasoned pros (Peter Wallace, David Stagg).
They have an up-and-coming coach and a strong juniors program.
But they’re no longer the engine room of Queensland’s Origin success, as they were so many times in the past. They’re no longer the first destination the hot, new young rugby league product in Queensland automatically heads to.
The Broncos still have a monopoly in the Brisbane rugby league market, though this could change in the future. They no longer have a complete monopoly in the flourishing Queensland market.
In my view the Broncos will remain a highly competitive outfit, both on and off the field, in the years to come. They remain a well-run club with some smart people involved.
However for about 20 years they were consistently in the top three or four competitive teams in the competition, which is a remarkable feat. They were a showpiece. Success in sport never lasts though.
It is a case of peaks and troughs. Rugby league is no different.
Brisbane may get back to the top soon, but for the next few seasons life is going to be a little bit different in Bronco-land.
Follow John on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
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