Kevin Walters has been left trying to find the positives from the Broncos season after his side all-but crashed out of the top eight with a 22-12 defeat to the Dragons at Kogarah.
The Broncos had to win to stand a chance of making the finals, but capitulated to a Dragons side that had nothing but pride to play for. Barring a 60 point win for the Tigers tomorrow, they are done.
Brisbane have now completed the unfortunate record being having the worst fall from grace in the top eight era of the NRL, becoming the first side to have been in the top four with six weeks to go to miss the finals completely.
“That’s been the last five weeks, one setback after another,” said Walters.
“We just couldn’t get off the canvas. We lacked the effort and discipline in the last five weeks that’s required. We had that effort and discipline for the first 20 weeks. And then we just let it go.”
“I’m still taking 13 wins as an improvement. I get that side of it. We’ve improved the last couple of year, but I thought we could have made the eight.
“If I sit back after a few days and have a look at it, 13 wins is a lot more than we had last year and we brought through some players that weren’t even in our sights last year so there are some good positives around the club the team.”
Walters made several huge selection calls: Selwyn Cobbo was allowed to play despite a dressing down from the coach after missing the team bus. He vindicated the decision, with several surging runs and his characteristic spark, but few went with him.
The choice of Tyson Gamble over Ezra Mam was perhaps less effective, with the recalled five eighth offering little in an attack that never really got going.
St George Illawarra, with nothing to play for, did what they have done all season. Their limitation has always been that struggle to defeat anyone who plays well against them, but have lost to every team that turns up and plays competently.
The Broncos made errors – Kurt Capewell had a shocking afternoon with three on his own – but it was as much the sort of mistakes as it was the number of them: too often, they were in yardage and gifted easy territory to their opponents. When in good ball, they failed to threaten enough.
The Dragons are nothing if not efficient, and as long as they have Ben Hunt, now the standout favourite for the Dally M after another easy three point, they have a chance.
They completed, they tried to absorb pressure and they delegated their attack down to Hunt to sort out. As has been the case when they have won this year, he delivered them everything.
This time, he was ably assisted. Zac Lomax had one of his good days and Jack Bird seemed intent on proving a point against his former club. Mat Feagai, too, was excellent and capped the result with an outstanding solo try late on.
“There’s nowhere to hide in the NRL and he’s been outstanding,” said coach Anthony Griffin of Hunt. “He’s been outstanding individually, he’s been outstanding as a leader for our club.”
Tautau Moga gave the Dragons their first big win of the game, dislodging a ball from Jake Turpin on his own line. From the resultant good ball set, Bird was able to dart in from close range.
Brisbane then stunted their own progress yet further, with Flegler binned for a high shot on Feagai. They saw out the ten minutes without further concessions and when the prop returned, immediately got to work.
The Broncos forced three repeat sets on the Dragons line, which eventually relented and allowed Delouise Hoiter to score.
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The metres were flowing freely, with Brisbane averaging more than twice as many per set as the Dragons, but as is invariably the case, Hunt removed the burden from his forwards with an excellent 40/20.
Griffin’s plan seems to hinge on Hunt or Lomax doing something exceptional, so after the halfback’s kick, the centre was on hand to throw a no look pass that got Feagai in at the corner.
The Broncos continued to give the Dragons chances to beat them. They made another yardage error to start the second half, giving Hunt the opportunity to craft another try, this time for Ramsey.
There was very nearly another soon after, again off Hunt, but Feagai was denied by a Staggs trysaver.
The defensive action was rewarded. With twenty to play, the Broncos were gifted a repeat set through needless Josh McGuire roughhousing, which was exploited by Billy Walters with a dummy half dart.
The pressure was relentless. Walters went close again from dummy half, before Hunt – excellent in defence as well as attack – chopped down Zac Hosking to save a certain try.
He must wonder who he has to work with. Under no pressure, Ramsey spilled a kick behind his own dead ball, gifting more good ball to the Broncos – only for Staggs to spill it straight back.
It was nearly put beyond doubt, as Lomax raced away from a Cobbo error, only for an accidental offside to be found by the bunker.
It didn’t matter: after another Broncos error, Hunt spread wide and got the ball to Feagai, who ran straight through the heart of the scrambling defence, batting eight tacklers out of the way before reaching the arm out for the line.
There was time yet for another binning – this time Staggs, again for a high shot – before the Broncos were put out of their misery.
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Ferret
Roar Rookie
I have no problem with Capewell for most of the season. Thought he was very good for a young side. Just disappointed in the back end of his season.
Chris
Guest
So there’s some evidence that Penrith have been transforming some players into the ‘Storm’ style of players . Over the last 3 years. Fairly Ordinary at their previous clubs. Do very well at the Panthers. Bought for higher contract prices from the Panthers . Then back to fairly ordinary again. Capewell is an example of this. The Storm have been doing it for years ! It’s all in the clubs ‘system’.
Robbo
Roar Rookie
Not sure he can recruit much in 2 years - contracts to run out and can only get what's available and stay within your cap. Roster issue is from much longer recruitment management than Hook can be accountable to. I hope he sticks with the young ones now so they don't go elsewhere. Not many good coaches to swap him with anyway so I'd rather he stayed for another year and see if he can improve them
andrew
Roar Rookie
Hey Robbo. Saints recruitment under Griffin has been a failure. Older players whose time has passed. The defence has been terrible,100 points deficit and Griffin’s insistence of picking under performing players is the norm with him. Saints won’t be a contender any time soon with Hook in charge. You won’t convince me otherwise. You only have to look at Canterbury. Barrett gets sacked, Potter takes over, completely changes their attack and look at the improvement in the Bulldogs. Sometimes the coach IS the problem.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
If Hunt-like was not Hunt, no worries. Not sure what your answer is, because 6 weeks ago you were on a March to the premiership, and there was no call for wholesale changes then.
Robbo
Roar Rookie
Would a new coach be achieving more with the cattle that's available? I dont subscribe to the blame being on the coach very often....sometimes, but not in this case. Saints have over-achieved in most peoples eyes this year and I personally thought they lost many games that were winnable through handling errors and poor discipline. I can't see how that has everything to do with the poor bloke with the clipboard unless he gets to hand-pick every member of his staff, but I do get that I'm in the minority there. Not every team can have Wayne Bennett and some of these blokes just need to be smarter and more focussed and stop hiding behind criticism of coaches
Rellum
Roar Guru
Mam is the future 6 or even 7. There is a gun kid the Broncs and Dolphins are battling over that might be a great 6.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Broncs were never going to match the Dragons offer. I never wanted Hunt to go. I would swap him in an instant for Reynolds. I would have done so at the beginning of the year
Noel
Roar Rookie
It wasn't so much he was shown the door. Broncs just backed the wrong horse with Milford. Couldn't keep them both for the money they commanded at the time.
Rellum
Roar Guru
It's only progress if it carry's on. If next year starts like the end of this year then we made no progress
Ferret
Roar Rookie
Have to say, was very disappointed in the way Reynolds and Capewell finished the season. They started the season great and got the Broncs to where they were but Capewell in particular has been a shadow in the last few weeks. In yesterday's game I thought the Bronco's pack got good go forward but Reynolds seemed to do very little with it. Swap Hunt and Reynolds and the Broncos win that game by 10 points. Attack next year should be fine with Herbie back an add Walsh, but right side defence has been horrible for the past few weeks. Some one needs to do a lot of work with Staggs as his misreads have proven very expensive.
Larry1950
Guest
Not sure if your comment is in reply to my Ben Hunt comparison (broncos should recruit a decent hooker) but never suggested the broncs try to get him back, that now expensive horse has well and truely bolted. I think they need to chase tiger Jake Simpkins or Liddle until their gun kid Blake Mozer comes in. I’d also swap out Haas for 2 seasons of a guy like Jordan Mclean at $500k (ish) as long as they don’t subsidise Payne’s contract elsewhere. As I said before, he’s trouble & so is his arrogant manager. Look at his behaviour outside the game resulting in several suspensions, his family issues etc and I reckon the problems he causes within the playing group isn’t worth it. I know he can play big minutes etc but does he win you many games off his own bat, not in my opinion. Those younger bronco forwards need a Josh Jackson or Dale Finucane hard arse type in their squad to bring them down to earth, big heads who’ve done not much yet. Too late for those two who are almost worn out but that type of resilient character is invaluable. Can’t see all this stuff is kevvie’s fault, Ikin and Lockyer should be calling them in for a rocket. As a postscript, hope Newcastle know what they’re getting with Gamble, mid-20’s and done stuff all in his career but bags a six time premiership player. I’d be pleased if Clifford jumped ship & moved to the broncs, he’s been hard done by & has plenty of good NRL years ahead of him.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
2018 obviously a far closer comp. More even spread of points, would naturally lead to a more even +/-. This year was definitely different although should show that all 8 teams finish in the positive, like most years.
mushi
Roar Guru
Over time yes but you do get anomalies in a season. It's more an indicator that if someone has 15-9 record but skinny F/a there probably not really a very good team (2018 is that type of year, more lack of a true first and second tier, instead a big middle and some outliers on w/l versus expected w/l). Or if they're a +6 a game side with 13-11 they've probably had more heart breakers. This year we've got 7 100+ teams which typically indicates they're a clear tier above we typically don't have. Broncos mediocre FA prior to the collapse indicated they were more a second 4 team and their w/l was flattering (they obviously got worse but only one tier worse).
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Makes sense that only winning slightly more than you lose, would be very tough to have a 100 plus +/-.
mushi
Roar Guru
We can't hammer them for that and then also hammer them for saying something
mushi
Roar Guru
Even throwing out 2021 a quick skim has every other year with at least two <100 fa teams in the 8. Your vaunted gaslighting of 2018 had 5. Most of the second 4 greatly outperformed their expected w/l.
mushi
Roar Guru
No 2018 had 5 teams with double digit fa. Heck two teams in the second 4 this year have better than the entire 2nd 4 of 2018. But hey keep on destroying the meaning of gaslight
Dodgy Dragons
Roar Rookie
It was nice to finish the season with a win, but for me it was a season of missed opportunity. That being to opportunity by Griffin to further the development of the younger members of our squad with more top grade minutes, rather than put more miles in clapped out old legs. His reliance on the likes of Woods, McCulloch and Maguire (who actually wasn’t as bad as I thought he would be), was a hinderance to our improvement this year. Yes you need some experience out there to guide, but the balance was way out of kilter and it showed in our lack of speed in particular around the ruck, probably the most important area in the current game. Our defensive system to me saw no real improvement from previous years, and to me that is one of our biggest problems, and fault lies with the coach. Hopefully, some deck chairs fall off the side of the boat in the off season, and a couple of solid recruits can plug the hole in stern, and the skipper (Griffin) can keep Gilligan company on the island in 2023
Rellum
Roar Guru
We need a good experience 9 that can be the guy for 2-3 years whilst Mozer shows if he has got it or not