Despite a losing run that has once-mighty Brisbane on the verge of being one of the worst teams in NRL history, Broncos captain Alex Glenn insists the team is in a better place than last season.
The Broncos slumped to their 13th consecutive defeat on Friday with a 28-16 loss to local rivals Gold Coast at CBUS Super Stadium.
Only three teams have had lost 14 or more matches consecutively since the unified NRL emerged from the Super League wars in 1998.
Newcastle endured 19 games without a win between Round 7 in 2016 and the opening round of 2017, while Gold Coast lost 14 consecutive matches across the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
Western Suburbs also lost 14 games across the 1998 and 1999 campaigns in the Magpies’ last season before their merger with Balmain to create the Wests Tigers.
Friday’s loss was cemented by a seven-minute period before halftime where the Titans ran in three tries but Glenn said that slump wasn’t a sign of a team struggling for belief after last year’s horrors.
“We’re struggling, I guess, with frustration but you know where we are, compared to where we were last year, there’s so much improvement that we’ve got,” Glenn told AAP.
“There’s a lot of belief in our team.
“Obviously the scoreboard doesn’t reflect that but where we went wrong was we handed over too much field. We screwed ourselves… that’s the part where you’ve got to be better.”
The Broncos’ last win was a victory over Canterbury in Round 9 last year at Suncorp Stadium.
The Bulldogs travel to Brisbane next weekend and Glenn believes just one positive result may be all it takes for the mood to vastly improve at Red Hill.
“Once we crack that first one man, the momentum will flow,” he said.
“We’ve got the right staff here, that’s going to get us the win. We’re going to bounce back.
“The beauty of it is that this is the start of the season. We need to have a hard look in the mirror and individually be better.
“The win’s not going to come easy but when we get that win the momentum will start rolling from there.”
Spartacus
Roar Rookie
"Glenn insists Broncos are better than 2020" Well, after the first two rounds of 2020 the Broncos were undefeated with two back-to-back wins over the Cowboys and the Rabbitohs. So on the surface of it Glenn appears to be wrong. But as Anthony "the Trojan horse" Seibold was the Broncos coach in 2020 it is hard to argue with Glenn's assessment. The Broncos are unquestionably better off without him. I will say though that from an outsider's perspective the Broncos appear to be trying hard but lack direction. Both Milford and Croft have failed them and I really don't see that combination, or either player in the halves, working for the Broncos. Personally I would play Milford in his correct position at FB and get him to involve himself like a second 5/8 in attack like Latrell Mitchell. Give him 4 weeks to come good at FB or cut him loose. Croft needs to go now though. He is just not up to the task, and he certainly is not the sort of player to provide confidence, stability and direction to a young side that is lost at sea. He was made to look better than he is being in a first class system at the Storm but outside of that and without an experienced halves partner to mentor him he will be treading water for the rest of his career I feel. Not unlike Luke Brooks in that regard.
Spartacus
Roar Rookie
The Broncos have no Fullback, no halves and a rookie hooker who is still learning the ropes. Despite the fact the Broncos have no spine they are still managing to crawl towards improvement, at least in attitude if not in results, compared to last year's fiasco.
Watda
Guest
But 2020 was such a high point?
LeftRight
Guest
It's well past time to drop Milford. The poor bloke's not a pivot & never has been - he should have been put back to full back years ago, a position where he did play well. Milford can't tackle, he drops off so many attempts (even against bigger opponents he needs to probably go low & hang on until another team mate arrives to complete the tackle). Last night, Milford and Croft (I think) were moved to the left wing to "defend" & also to shore up the middle channel as their defence as individuals is so porous. Milford's ability to build and guide an attack is also limited, but he's not surrounded by supporting geniuses either. The Broncos need to make immediate tough decisions on Milford (and Croft)!
Rellum
Roar Guru
Just watched the game. Very little positive to take out of it. Croft is a passenger and should be dropped. Carrigan needs to be dropped as well. His hands are so poor his mistakes are costing us valuable possession and leading us to defend for long periods. We have to hold the ball for much longer. The defence is very poor at times. The attack is very toothless as well. I would like the kick it to Coates thing to end now. No more than one or two a game. We need to now look at the roster and make some hard calls on the attitude of everyone there. Heading into next year I can think of only maybe Riki and Coates are players I would think are locks to keep. Hass if he can stay out of trouble. TPJ,Turpin and Farnworth are probably keepers as well if they keep up the efforts. The rest, prove you want to stay here or goodbye. Time to bring home so quality QLDers. One problem is of course that any decent junior that comes through is poached by another club. We have turned into a development club for others. The generation coming through only know the Broncs as another team, a failure at that. My 18 year old niece doesn't remember out last title. The younger generation are much more brand focused, the franchise model of all sports has removed the pride in your local team for the players. The youth coming through do not, I am guessing, have any real desire to play for the Broncs.
Big Daddy
Guest
What he means is they are better than last year is they'll finish 15 th instead of 16 th. At this stage he's probably right.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
losing by 10 a game is an improvement on 18 per game
Bronc12
Guest
There is not one other team that issako, Milford or Croft would get in right now. One has no field position awareness. The other soft and lazy. The third f.. knows what he learnt at Melbourne but maybe cutting oranges for half time. Poor salary management, over paid players and upper board management are killing this club. Sad thing is there is no end in sight. Ur kidding yourselves if any broncos fan thinks there is.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
They must have the carnival mirrors left over from Ekka
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Well that’s a relief for Broncos fans.. they arent as bad as the team that got them their first wooden spoon. Way to set the bar Alex
Son of the Twice Born
Guest
GCT may not make the eight on that showing but there is time to get some improvement yet. It was laste in the season before they came good last year.
mushi
Roar Guru
You'd swap them but... I wasn't too convinced by the GC play making. There were a lot more points on offer from the Broncos than what was put on the scoreboard.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
They only need three wins and a draw to prove that.
Patrick Fitzgibbons
Guest
They should have grabbed an old head real game manager like James Maloney - great kicking game knows how to build pressure could have mentored Dearden- same story for 4 years no quality halves
andrew
Roar Rookie
Agree Emcie, not a good look. I think Kevvie will be having some sleepless nights.
Albo
Roar Rookie
The Broncos were pretty awful last night (17 errors & 30 odd missed tackles) . The Titans were not much better ( 15 errors) but for that 7 minute burst at the end of the first half. They are missing onfield game management most of all. They are trying hard but teamwork is lacking and errors & missed tackles abound. Whilst they still have Haas, Lodge and Staggs to come back, I can't see any game management there, just more guys playing off the tops of their heads. Not sure what Kevvie can do but to keep persisting with Croft , Milford & Dearden and hope the penny eventually drops, and these guys can really manage the talent that is around them to maximise their individual abilities and deliver quality performances.
King in the north
Roar Rookie
It’s not unusual to wonder who from any of the other teams would you swap your team’s halves (or fullback, hooker etc). Broncos fans should be starting to wonder who they wouldn’t swap their halves for. It’s hard to think of any combination who wouldn’t be an improvement on what the Broncs have.
Emcie
Roar Guru
To be honest, I’m less concerned with with Glenns attempts to stay positive then the coaches’ despondent demeanour in the presser just 2 rounds in. Even the half-time shots of the dressing room had the atmosphere of a funeral procession… That doesn’t bode well
Tony
Roar Guru
Back to back spoons are on the cards mate
andrew
Roar Rookie
Glenn said much the same last year and that everything would turn around and it would be one heck of a story. Really stirring comments Alex, General Patton would be proud.