With only three wins between them this season, Saturday night’s clash between the Brisbane Broncos and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium threatens to turn into a mockbuster.
Nearing the halfway point of this shortened season, the sides sit in 14th and 16th place on the ladder respectively, with the Broncos the only team to have not won a match since the season resumed in May and the Bulldogs’ lone win coming against the Dragons in Round 4.
Of course all the heat has been on the Broncos and coach Anthony Seibold after the side crashed to their sixth consecutive loss last Saturday against the Warriors, marking their longest losing streak in a single season since they lost their final seven matches of the 2005 season, including the two finals they played.
In the match against the Warriors they led 10-0 in the shadows of half-time and were 16-12 going into the final ten minutes before they capitulated to lose 22-12.
In stark contrast to the rather farcical scenes we saw at Suncorp Stadium on 27 June, when players were seen sharing a laugh with their Titans rivals after their embarrassing 30-12 defeat, the Broncos were unable to keep their emotions in check upon the full-time siren.
It is starting to become clear that the winning drought is starting to take its toll on a club that was once the most dominant club in the NRL.
CEO Paul White has also come out on the front foot recently, stating that Anthony Seibold will not be sacked in the short term, though he did also state that there are performance clauses in his contract that could be triggered towards the end of it if results do not improve.
But if you thought Seibold had it tough, spare a thought for third-year Bulldogs coach Dean Pay, whose future has been a constant topic of discussion following his side’s poor start to the season.
Off-field issues, poor form and injuries see the boys from Belmore sit in dead last on the ladder with only one win for the season.
Last week they were kept on the back foot for the entire match against Souths, losing 26-10 and losing forward Adam Elliott to a shoulder injury that could keep him out for a while.
That followed on from heavy defeats to the Sydney Roosters and Wests Tigers on either side of a gut-wrenching 20-18 loss to the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in Round 6.
They’ll go into their match against the Broncos buoyed by the fact they beat them by 30-14 at ANZ Stadium in the final round last year, which capped off a strong finish to the season in which they won seven of their final ten matches to finish 10-14 for the year.
Bulldogs coach Dean Pay. (AAP Image/Michael Chambers)
The Broncos, however, won their last duel at Suncorp Stadium in Round 18 last year by the scoreline of 28-6 and haven’t lost to the Bulldogs at home since 2015.
With both coaches under pressure after presiding over their sides’ dismal first half of the 2020 season, expect both the Broncos and Bulldogs to come out firing, especially in the early stages.
Not only will the Broncos have the advantage of playing at home, but they will also be cheered on by up to 10,000 fans, with restrictions in Queensland easing to the point where stadiums can be filled by either 10,000 fans, or 25 per cent of the ground’s capacity, whichever is the lesser.
The fans will also be owed a much-improved performance by their side after they were famously booed off at half-time in the Round 7 match against the Titans, which marked the Broncos’ worst ever defeat to their M1 neighbours.
So after six straight losses can the Broncos turn a corner, or will the Bulldogs inflict more misery on the NRL’s one-time glamour club and send them to the bottom of the ladder this Saturday night?
Andrew
Roar Pro
Broncos fans chill out Seibold, is two years into a five year deal. He has a vision & a rebuild takes time. Fifita want to stay, there’s a really good team in the making so just relax. You’ll be top 4 next year.
Ray Stewart
Roar Rookie
If Dean Pay and Seibold swapped sides, we all know which would be in the top 8.
Paul
Roar Guru
For sure now they've been publicly mentioned by White. I'dlove to know what KPIs he has to meet.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
I think the numbers on the scoreboard are far more important to the Broncos than to the Bulldogs. Do you reckon Seibold might have rung his agent through the week to check for any performance clause in his contract?
Jim
Guest
Bulldogs can't score & Broncos can't tackle so who knows what is going to happen.
TJ
Guest
Think it's pretty unfair for Dean Pay to be at risk of losing his job with the cattle he has. Dogs players are giving their all each and every week and just don't have the players to create points. Can't see what more Pay can do until they can actually sign some players that are actually first grade standard. On the other hand, if the Broncos lose this week I just can't see how Siebold can possibly survive. They have a pretty hefty injury toll but they still have a lot more talent on the park then most sides in the bottom 8. After this game they play the Tigers, Storm, Sharks, Rabbits and Raiders. Lose this week and there is a very real chance that the Broncos might not pick up another two points until round 15.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
Will be interesting to see if 10k Broncos members turn up. Am I right in saying that the Broncos last home game was under subscribed even allowing for the restrictions?
Paul
Roar Guru
Might be the way to go in the footy tipping, BD. Again though, there are good draws and bad draws, so the pressure the coaches will be under still depends how each sides plays.
Big Daddy
Guest
Paul, What money on a draw. Stranger things have happened.
Paul
Roar Guru
I don't think the result in this game matters as much as how the teams play. If either team gets a belting, you can bet the knives will be out for the losing coach, not because they lost but how they played. In similar vein, if one side plays much improved footy but still loses, the knives probably stay in the drawer for another week. I'm obviously hoping for the latter result and no doubt, so are two blokes named Pay & Seibold.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
"On paper" Broncos by 20 plus comparing rosters however I thought the same against the Titans & by a bigger margin last week against the Warriors. Games however are played on grass not paper & attitude & endeavour will go a long way towards success.
Walter Black
Guest
You have a point there. The doggies should be well primed to have a go in this one. Should be interesting. The NRL is as much fun off the field as it is on it.
Ralph Malph
Roar Rookie
Lets all hope Seibolds dud coaching techniques continue and he can deliver the Broncos first Trophy since 2006 with a Wooden Spoon.
Soda
Roar Rookie
Yep broncos are in quite a tough place. No credibility to gain but a whole lot to lose. I reckon the dogs will probably turn up for this one. All they have to do is stick with the broncos for the first 60 minutes and then take it to them when they start to fade.
Crow
Roar Pro
Yes, I agree. If the Broncos win no celebration. They have only beaten the wooden spooner in 16th position. If the Bulldogs win the Broncos are in the hurt locker. Before I see Seibold get the sack I’d like to see a few changes in the roster. Everybody is calling out Boyd and Milford with good cause. Isn’t the definition of stupidity - doing the same thing excepting a different outcome. I suggest Jake Turpin and Tom Dearden be promoted to the starting line up. Yes Hooker and Five Eighth. Seibold has said he needs to protect his emerging talent. Ok. True. So why not start the young lads against a struggling team. It’s not like they are going to be bashed by hardened inform forwards like JW Hargreaves, Josh Papalii or Darcy Lussick. As for Boyd, Sure he is great amongst the young lads with advice and insight but there is enough young talent to sideline him. Farnsworth can replace him. He can come onto the coaching staff and still advise the lads. What’s the worst that can happen. They loose?
Raider 89
Guest
Everyone seems to think it's the Broncos godgiven right win every week. I couldn't care less if the have a rather week season. No one seems to care if certain other teams languish at the foot of the table.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
This Game should be rename Survivor -which coach is gunna get voted out at Council
Walter Black
Guest
This is probably the one match that the Broncos can win this season. The Bulldogs just lack that bit of class. If the Broncs do lose then Mr. S should be fired before he leaves the coach's box.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
Really undecided on this game. Bulldogs have heart but limited talent. Broncos have unlimited talent but no heart. Haven’t seen any Dogs games recently- anyone out there give me a tip?