The Brisbane Broncos are on top of the NRL world, kicking off their season 5-0 to sit alone at first in the standings.
They haven’t played this well since their last premiership way back in 2006.
The Broncos have the hardest draw in the league, however they’ve defied expectations.
Taking on Penrith at BlueBet Stadium first up is as hard as it gets. That clash is a representation of how good their season has been. They were able to hold out the premiers on their line for most of the second half and conceded just 12 points all match.
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Brisbane’s defence has remained a brick wall since and their attack is arguably the best in the competition.
Reece Walsh celebrates scoring a try. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
They are leading the league in points, line breaks, meters gained, post-contact meters, as well as scoring more tries than any other team.
When you pair this with outstanding defence, you win premierships.
Many like to argue whether it’s attack or defence which secures premierships. You need to be around the best at both areas, champions can’t be made if a side is one of the best in only one of these areas.
This Broncos team is almost a perfect comparison to the 2015-16 side that went oh so close to premiership glory.
The only thing that could be different is that these current guys are even better. Ezra Mam is the old Anthony Milford and Reece Walsh is a developing Darius Boyd.
In Brisbane’s season before and after the 2015 Grand Final loss they known as entertainers and that’s exactly what they are at the moment. They’re dangerous every time they have the ball in hand and their attacking raids in the opposition’s red zone often end in a repeat set if they don’t get across the stripe.
The Broncos’ glory days occurred in the 1990s and 2000s when they won six premierships in 15 seasons will be hard to ever repeat.
They still have a long way to go just to get to this year’s Grand Final, let alone break their title drought, however it’s hard to find a team that has displayed their consistent excellence this year.
Kotoni Staggs scores. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Brisbane go from grinding out wins over Penrith and the Dolphins, to scoring four tries in 10 minutes against St George Illawarra and brutally embarrassing the Tigers last weekend.
The big question regarding their chances of breaking their 17-year drought is whether they have the DNA of a premiership-winning side.
Such claims have been made many times previously in the past decade which have not aged well.
Origin time is huge for this team – they will have several players in the Maroons squad as well as Payne Haas lining up for the Blues.
If they have their team intact come finals team and can replicate their recent red-hot form at the end of the season, the Broncos have the horsepower to finally adding a new piece of silverware to their dusty trophy cabinet.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Given that plenty thought Walters would be the 1st coach gone this year, and the Broncs would struggle to make the eight , 5 from 5 is a great start. Origin will be tough with Walsh, Cobbo, Carrigan, Capewell, Flegler & Hass missing, And possibly Staggs if Turbo or Latrell do a fetlock. The only one to come back into the Broncs will be Oates. And to finish the season with home games NOT at Suncorp, Eels & Roosters at the Gabba, making it harder again. Compared to the Panthers who have 5 of their last 7 games at Bluebet, I think I know who got the dud draw
KenW
Roar Rookie
Sydney teams barely have to travel at all, let’s not forget. That's just a bit silly. Half the teams in the comp are outside of Sydney, so every 2nd away game for a Sydney team means travel. That's less than the Warriors, Cowboys, Storm and Titans who travel for every away game but it's not 'barely have to travel at all'
KenW
Roar Rookie
Is there any player that tarnished their (on-field) reputation more in their final couple of seasons than Darius? I mean he was seriously good for a long time. Clive Churchill winner, one of the highest try scorers in Origin history. Hard to forget those lacklustre final years though. I would second that Walsh plays a bit like Lockyer though.
KenW
Roar Rookie
It's a fair point that they were expected to be better than they are. But I'm not sure how that affects the credit Brisbane are due to for beating them. They beat the team that is running in the bottom 4, not the theoretical team pundits were anticipating pre-season.
Nat
Roar Guru
That’s now not in Rd 2 when the Broncos played them. Fox sports has them as GF-ists and Code Sports had them only behind Pennies, Easts and Storm at that time.
Christo
Roar Guru
Already has contributed immensely. :shocked:
KenW
Roar Rookie
Is anyone putting forward the Cows as a top 3 team in 2023 though? They haven't shown anything to suggest that, they're currently in the bottom 4 and are 10th in the betting lines according to sportsbet. Besides that the Broncos need no excuses, they've played well, undefeated through 5 games and beating Penrith was a proper notch in the belt. As DPS says though, pushing a narrative that they've done it the hard way just doesn't hold up.
matth
Roar Guru
Well played :silly:
matth
Roar Guru
Before the season playing the premier and a top 4 team in the first five rounds would have been considered difficult
matth
Roar Guru
One thing we can all agree on is that Walsh is super entertaining. I reckon he will increase Broncos crowds and tv ratings all on his own
Fraser
Roar Rookie
It’s awesome to have players back in Origin contention. Haas, Carrigan, Capewell, Cobbo, Walsh – maybe Flegler and Oates. It means the team is strong again. The experience they get from the Origin arena will more than make up for the potential losses during. Teams full of representative players win premierships.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
The Broncos have the easiest draw as they only have to play sides below them on the ladder, while the Tigers have the hardest, only playing teams above them. :silly:
Christo
Roar Guru
Darren Lockyer would've been a much better example :unhappy:
Christo
Roar Guru
Origin time will be huge and as usual Brisbane may cough up a few wins during that period, however it's how they respond which matters the most.
Christo
Roar Guru
Hi Fraser, I agree with your opinion on how tough it will be, regarding their testing draw. I'm not sure that Broncos will win the premiership, however i believe this is their best chance in a while. It's hard to say that they will struggle mid year against tough teams, after they've played like they have to begin the season. I'm not counting my chickens too early, although i'm gonna state a fact that no team is beating them when they play as well as they have during most of their matches this year. Origin time will be tough, as it always is for Brisbane and yes they might cough up a few game, but it's how they respond which is most important.
Fraser
Roar Rookie
I mean, they have defied expectations. Everyone thought they would lose to Panthers and Cowboys.
Fraser
Roar Rookie
The Broncos were rated the hardest draw preseason by most sites who perform a Strength of Schedule analysis, based on last season’s results (what else can you go on?). They play 2022 top four opponents – Penrith, Parramatta, Cronulla and North Queensland – a total of seven times out of a maximum eight games. They also play Storm and Rabbitohs twice. They’ve already played and beaten last year’s premier/minor premier (Panthers – 1st) and preliminary finalist (Cowboys – 3rd). Apart from that, games against teams that they lost to last year (Dragons, Tigers) and an undefeated Dolphins. They haven’t had to travel much yet, but they will. Sydney teams barely have to travel at all, let’s not forget. Broncos are playing well for the first time in a long time and I can feel the hate from down south starting, which means we are a threat again. Let’s Go Broncos!
Tony
Roar Guru
Luckily, Walsh already has Boyd's defensive skills,
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Agreed, being 5-0 is, in fact, better than 0-5 See how they go this week, if they don’t give our sorry asses a walloping, there is trouble in paradise.
Nat
Roar Guru
Why are we making excuses for 2 of the top 3 teams? Penrith win eve stat bar the scoreboard. Dolphins also beat some good teams and Dragons haven't been any where near as bad as some predicted. This is a team that hasn't played finals in 3 years so their bat shouldn't be so high.