Brisbane Broncos coach Kevin Walters has let loose on his side’s 18-12 loss to the Titans on Sunday, suggesting that wantaway superstar Ben Hunt would be put off joining the club as a result of their poor attitude.
“Do you think he would want to come to the club after watching that?” he raged in the post-match press conference. “I wouldn’t have thought so.
“That’s not who we are. I don’t like that team who played today. The whole team showed up with the wrong attitude.
“We need to fix it and fix it in a hurry. I’m angry for the 40,000 people that came here today that expected more.”
It was a frustrating afternoon at Suncorp Stadium that saw the Bunker well and truly earn their pocket money for the number of times they were called upon.
In the end, it might be the call that they didn’t make that could be the big one: Pat Carrigan was not censured for what looked like a clear hip-drop on Queensland teammate David Fifita.
The judiciary might yet find something of interest, which could imperil the Maroons’ lock ahead of Game 3 of Origin, especially given the similarity between this tackle and the one that Carrigan made on Jackson Hastings last year, ending the halfback’s season. Fifita looked in pain but completed the match.
Reece Walsh could also find himself in hot water after allegedly using some colourful language towards the referee following a call going against the Broncos.
Many had written the visitors off after the sacking of coach Justin Holbrook, but the Titans were able to put a disastrous week behind them to hang on for the win.
The new coach bounce struck again: this is the second time this year that the team who sacked a coach midweek has won, following the Dragons’ defeat of the Roosters following their axing of Anthony Griffin.
“It was pretty tough,” said Titans playmaker AJ Brimson after the match. “We spoke about trying to make out club proud and I think we did that today.”
The job looked even harder for the Titans when skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui was ruled out not long before kick-off, but the Gold Coast came together for a gutsy win against big brother Brisbane.
Interim coach Jim Lenihan was proud of what the team produced given the circumstances.
“I thought the boys’ effort was really good today. It was a really hard week, a shock certainly. It was late in the week too on a Thursday so for the boys to process it, go through it and then turn up and put in a good effort like that is really pleasing.”
It was an uncharacteristic effort from the Broncos who are known for their high attacking ability but struggled for cohesion and discipline for most of the match.
The first half was full of chances that went begging for both teams. Numerous opportunities in their opposition’s half presented themselves, but poor ball control kept seeing both sides cough up possession with the scoreboard remaining blank.
The closest chance came in the 20th minute when Ezra Mam thought he had crossed for the home side, but the Bunker called Walsh offside and denied the try.
Just a minute later, the Bunker was called up again to use the red button up the other end of the field when it found Titan Sam Verrills had knocked on close to the try line.
The Broncos’ big boys teamed together ten minutes before the break for the first try of the day when Carrigan got a short pass close to the line to Tom Flegler to score.
A contentious call saying Walsh had played at the ball kicked by the Titans before it went over the sideline gave the visitors a perfect opportunity to hit back before the break.
Just two plays later, Fifita stormed onto the ball to get his team on the board, with the sides heading to the sheds levelled at 6-6.
It didn’t take long for the Titans to take the lead in the second half following a penalty against Bronco Kobe Hetherington for a dangerous tackle on Titans winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira.
It gifted the visitors great field position which saw Brian Kelly cross for his team’s second try of the day. The visitors extended their lead out to 16-6 shortly after when Khan-Pereira pinned the ears back and streaked down the sideline to score.
The Broncos thought they had hit back but had another disallowed try called against them after Corey Oates was found to have knocked the ball forward before being grounded by teammate Brendan Piakura.
The home crowd were furious when a third try was denied just minutes later when Fifita was said to have been impeded while Kotoni Staggs and Walsh had teamed up for the Broncos fullback to cross the line.
The Bunker’s busy afternoon continued when a Titans try was denied in the next set with Phillip Sami knocking on before being grounded by Aaron Schoupp. Ezra Mam got the all-clear when he stretched out to score for the Broncos and got his side back to within four points.
The referee took over the role of denying four-pointers, with each side crossing for a try just to have Chris Butler call them both back.
The Titans were back out in front by six off the back of a penalty goal, and a last-ditch attempt from the Broncos after an Adam Reynolds kick downfield was scooped up by Jayden Campbell to secure an upset in the local derby.
A controversial call that led to the Titans’ first try of the match had everyone talking at halftime.
Just before the break, a fifth tackle kick from Titan Khan-Pereira was touched by Broncos’ fullback Walsh before going over the sideline. It was deemed Walsh had played at the ball with his hand despite the fullback pleading he hadn’t.
In the next set, Fifta crossed for the visitors and levelled the scores before the break.
“I’m saying he didn’t play at the ball – he turned his back on the ball,” said Fox League caller Steve Roach. “You could have a case for a little shoulder charge though.”
The Fox League analysis panel found it too hard to call.
“It’s very hard to prove intent, the fact was Reece Walsh was coming across to shut things down whether it was through a tackle or whether it was to clock the ball,” said Greg Alexander.
“The fact is it hit him in the hand, he was coming over to make the tackle. I could have gone either way.”
Alexander’s colleague Michael Ennis agreed.
“You could argue both ways. You could argue he was just bracing but the fact is it hits him on the hand, and the referee has made the decision,” said Ennis.
“It’s one of those 50/50 calls that has gone the way of the Titans.”
After Wests Tigers’ Ales Twal finally broke his try drought, all eyes are now on Bronco enforcer Carrigan to finally get his first four-pointer.
Playing his 74th NRL game on Sunday, Carrigan continues to hold his record of a duck egg for at least another round.
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