By Joel Gould
An alarming statistic Brisbane recorded in 2022, but never once under former coach Wayne Bennett, has highlighted the team’s key failing over the past four NRL seasons.
In each of Bennett’s 25 seasons coaching the Broncos, in two different stints, the side finished the regular season scoring more points than they conceded. The Broncos won six premierships along the way.
Since Bennett was sacked in 2018, they’ve returned negative points differentials in four campaigns under coaches Anthony Seibold and Kevin Walters.
The worst was in 2020 when Brisbane had a points difference of -356 in a COVID-curtailed 20-round season under Seibold and interim coach Peter Gentle.
In the four seasons after he returned in 2015, the Bennett-coached Broncos averaged 18 points against and since his departure it has blown out to 26.
Brisbane conceded a shocking 211 points in their final six matches this year, including a try in the 22-12 loss to St George Illawarra last week where winger Matt Feagai beat nine Broncos to knock them out of finals contention.
Aaron Woods of the Dragons is tackled by the Broncos defence on September 3, 2022.Credit:Getty Images AsiaPac
“I would find it sacrilegious to say about my old team that they weren’t putting their bodies on the line … but it looks like that,” said two-time Brisbane premiership-winning forward Peter Ryan, who was also Bennett’s defensive coach in the 2006 title win.
“There were guys I did not like in my team but on the field it did not matter. If there was push and shove, I was coming in no matter what. Once we crossed the white line we were all in it together.
“Defence is attitude but you don’t fall off tackles because you want to fall off them. You fall off tackles because you are not doing it right for a start.
“Kevvie [Walters] did something right to get them one win from the finals, but the last four weeks they were absolutely terrible.”
Kevin Walters and trainers look on during a Brisbane Broncos session.Credit:Getty
Ryan said Bennett’s defensive systems worked for good reason.
“In my mind Wayne’s defence was always about being proactive rather than reactive, but a lot of traits have changed at the Broncos since Wayne was at the Broncos,” he said.
The champion Brisbane forwards of the early 1990s were known as “The Pop-gun Pack”.
“That’s because most of us were under 100 kilos. We were small but effective,” Ryan said.
“Wayne always bought defensive players. That’s what I was there for. That’s what Trevor Gillmeister was there for … and later that is why Tonie Carroll was there. We weren’t rock stars. We were grafters who worked our butts off.”
Despite the current squad’s late season fadeout, Ryan said it wasn’t all doom and gloom.
“I do see hope for this team,” he added.
“[Prop] Pat Carrigan has turned into a powerhouse and the on-field defensive leader. His suspension and not being on the field for four rounds was the reason they did not make the finals.
“The young five-eighth Ezra Mam is amazing. I really like him, and [Maroons winger] Selwyn Cobbo.”
– AAP
