Broncos coach Kevin Walters issued a strong warning to the competition during a tense press conference after his team’s third consecutive loss on Friday night.
Brisbane was defeated 22-12 by the Rabbitohs, marking their first three-game losing streak since 2022 and likely leaving them outside the top eight by the end of the round.
In response to intense questioning from the Sydney media about his confidence in turning the season around for the reigning grand finalists, Walters expressed certainty. “I’m very confident. I’ve seen what these boys can do,” he asserted. “It’s just their attitudes. We’re just not quite right at the moment. But we’ll keep working on it. And when we get it right, you’ll all know. You’ll see it. Then we won’t have to answer these questions you’re asking me now.”
Maintaining a positive outlook, Walters emphasized that the team’s fitness was not the issue. “What’s letting us down is our skill level, which everyone would agree is of a very high level. We’re just not doing the basics.”
The Broncos are missing key players, including halfback and captain Adam Reynolds (bicep) for another two months, and superstar fullback Reece Walsh, who has been unavailable due to Origin commitments and injury. Walters, however, refused to attribute the slump solely to these absences but did express frustration with the team’s offensive struggles. “We’ve got the worst completion rate in the competition. Which makes you do more work in defence. I’m frustrated. I can’t imagine how the players are,” he said. “We’ve got to hold the ball and build pressure. And that’s going to help our game so much. Until we do that, this will keep happening.”
Broncos captain Pat Carrigan remained optimistic about the team’s prospects. “I look at the quality of footy we play no matter where we’re sitting on the ladder, that’s just my personality and the personality of the group and what Kev drives within the group,” Carrigan stated. “It’s just addressing the little concentration lapses and the mental errors we’re having at the moment, but I’m pretty sure fourth and ninth are all on the same points.”
Brisbane may also face the next game without star forward Jordan Riki, who was sin-binned for an off-the-ball hit on Cameron Murray. Walters acknowledged that Riki was fortunate not to be sent off. “I thought he was lucky to stay on the field,” Walters admitted. “He was a bit off tonight – he’ll be the first to admit it – and we’ll have a discussion with him. His effort was good, but he didn’t have his head in the right space. I don’t think he’ll get suspended. I thought a send-off would have been sufficient. We need everyone (on deck), with two more Origins to go.”
Brisbane has a bye next week before facing the Warriors and Penrith.
