The Broncos might have been content with a ninth placed finish at the start of the season, but given the heights they reached at different points their 2022 campaign has to be considered a failure
The Broncos were in the top four in Round 19, with coach Kevin Walters putting it in the universe that the Broncos will win a premiership.
It is a comment he might want to take back as his side imploded, winning just one more game to miss the finals by one win.
What’s more, comments from outgoing playmaker Tyson Gamble, who suggested Adam Reynolds was the real mastermind at the Broncos, did little to help the cause.
Gamble walked the comments back after significant backlash but the damage was already done. It followed reports that a spray from Kevin Walters left certain players “upset” suggesting everything is far from right at Red Hill.
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After appearing to have a platform for a period of sustained success the Broncos will head into the off-season needing to work out how they can get the club back in the finals and competing for premierships once again,
Read on for the Broncos’ 2022 season review.
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BRONCOS SEASON REVIEW
2021 Record: W13 L11 – 54.17% win rate
Grading: C+
What went right: It could be easy to overlook some of the Broncos’ success stories given the calamitious end to the season. But the fact remains that for 80 per cent of the season the Broncos were on track for finals, if not top four. Adam Reynolds looked the buy of the season as he brought a calm head to the club and helped fix their woeful end of sets, something that had plagued the side in 2021. Kurt Capewell added a premiership winning mentality to the team, before the Origin campaign took the gas out of him at the back end of the year. Te Maire Martin became one of the great comeback stories in rugby league at fullback and will be missed when he heads to the Warriors in 2023. Selwyn Cobbo, meanwhile, emerged as a superstars of the future at club and state level and someone who can bring an X-factor to their play. Corey Oates returned to his try-scoring best to earn a new contract with the club, which is still yet to be finalised. One of the biggest success stories was the emergence of Ezra Mam. The 19-year-old looks to be a playmaker of real potential and someone who can learn from Reynolds as he looks to build on an impressive rookie season.
Finally Patrick Carrigan emerged as a future captain after dominating for both club and the Maroons. His signficance to the team became clear once he was rubbed out for four-weeks over a hip-drop tackle. The NRL360 panel discussed Carrigan’s significance after the Broncos’ disastrous 60-12 loss to the Storm. “Carrigan’s a big loss, not only just for what he brings as an individual but how he’s able to direct the team and work with Adam Reynolds to steer the team and coach the team on the field,” Cooper Cronk said.
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What went wrong: The biggest problem the Broncos had was trying to keep the intensity in the young side for the course of a full season. They showed they are a team with plenty of class and attacking prowess, but when injuries hit they didn’t have the depth to keep turning up in the last six weeks of the competition. Payne Haas was below his best this season and whether Brisbane admit it or not his contract situation was a distraction for the team and the player. Haas asked the club for a release believing he is worth $1 million a season, before putting his contract talks on hold until after the season. If Hass is worth $1 million a season he certainly didn’t play like it this year. The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield said the Broncos should hold their ground over his contract demands.
“The big story in the off-season there is the playing group,” Rothfield said on Big Sports Breakfast Radio on Monday.
“I honestly don’t like singling out players when the team is responsible … the players, coach and everyone, but geez Payne Haas has been disappointing to me.
“I think it’s a story that will explode any time because remember earlier this year he went in and asked for a release because he wasn’t happy with his contract money.
“Well you know he’s on $800,000 a year. Well if he really wants to go up to $1 million next year I think the club should say ‘Payne, we’re not prepared to pay you that amount of money, you are under contract here for 800 for the next two years, see you later if you don’t want to do it’.
“I think they’ve got to get players in there who aren’t worried about their pay packets as much as he is and it might be harsh singling out one guy but they’ve been so disappointing.”
Kotoni Staggs had a disappointing season and was outplayed by the unheralded Herbie Farnworth and he clearly had a confidence hit when he was dropped after his Origin debut for the Blues. The club have improved against the middle teams in the NRL, but are still rarely competitive against the top sides. The Broncos lost to the Storm (60-12), Eels (53-6), Panthers (40-12), Cowboys (38-12) and (40-26). That shows they still have a long way to go to win a premiership. The Broncos still have issues defensively and until they improve that area of their game they can’t rely on outscoring teams with their at times brilliant attack. The Broncos bench was a bit thin at times, especially when injuries struck and they need to bolster their squad, so that they can compete for all 24 games of the regular season and weather injuries when they strike. Tyson Gamble’s comments on coach Kevin Walters were poorly worded and poorly timed and pointed to cracks in the dressing room between the players and the coaching staff. The players that were unhappy with Walters’ spray after their loss to the Eels showed the Broncos dressing room still has issues and they need to be weeded out.
What they need: A hooker and another tough edge forward. The Broncos failed to cement a regular hooker. Billy Walters, Cory Paix and Jake Turpin, who has not been offered a new deal all spent time in the saddle but failed to find consistency in the key position. It was confounding that Turpin, who won’t be at the club next season was deemed the best hooker at the club in the final rounds. Blake Mozer is the future of the club at No.9, but whether he will be ready by next season remains to be seen and he will need time to grow into a consistent first grader. The Broncos also need another tough uncompromising back-rower who can add some starch to their defensive line. When Kurt Capewell and Patrick Carrigan were not in the team or off the field, the Broncos’ defence went to water. Jordan Riki has potential, but he needs to be more consistent and make a bigger impact on both sides of the ball.
Going: Brenko Lee (Dolphins), David Mead (retired), Te Maire Martin (Warriors), Jake Turpin (TBC)
Coming: Reece Walsh (Warriors), Jesse Arthars (returning from loan deal at Warriors).
