Brutal stats show Broncos panic under pressure - and Reece Walsh is the scapegoat
Reece Walsh is under fire but one of his biggest supporters claims Brisbane’s problems run much deeper than a few errors from their superstar fullback.
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Billy Slater believes the Broncos don’t know who they are as a football team with a brutal statistic confirming his opinion they falter under pressure.
Reece Walsh has been heavily criticised for an error-prone game that enabled Parramatta to produce an upset win at Suncorp Stadium but Slater has claimed “if Reece didn’t play on the weekend they get beaten by 20.”
The State of Origin coach believes Walsh has his foibles but the Broncos two-toned style of play is a bigger concern.
“I am sure there are parts of Reece’s game he could work on,” Slater said on Channel 9.
“(But) I don’t think the Broncos understand who they are and what they are trying to do.
“I just feel the balance to their game ... they are trying to play a really consistent, structured type of game and when they get behind they feel like they have to play it.
“When you are trying to play catch-up, that’s when errors happen. There were a lot of errors around Reece on the weekend but a lot of good stuff as well. If he doesn’t play they don’t get close.”
Statistics provided to this masthead from Fox League reveal that only the Cowboys (121) and Newcastle (114) have made more second half errors than the Broncos (104) this season, many coming from desperate plays when they have been behind in the game.
Amazingly, given the kicking prowess of their captain Adam Reynolds, the Broncos have made more second half kicking errors than any other team.
The Broncos are now at major risk of missing out on the top five and bookmakers have reacted accordingly.
After losing to the Eels, the Broncos were eased from $8 to $11 but the Warriors shock loss to the Titans saw the Broncos price firm to $9.50 given the Warriors are the team they must round up if they are to finish in the top four.
Former England captain James Graham said one of the challenges for the Broncos spine was sorting out a clear plan given that stars like Ben Hunt, Walsh and Reynolds could all be excused for demanding the ball.
“Sometimes you wonder whether they need a hierarchy in their spine in terms of who is the dominant player,” Graham said on Triple M.
“It is difficult to identify at the moment ... if they are all demanding the ball who gets it?
“Does Hunt go? Does he just take off at dummy-half.
“He has a point to prove being back there.
“We wonder about the hierarchy. Melbourne Storm do it perfectly.
“They have four guns in their spine and they all have an effect on the game at different times. That is the model to go to.”
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Originally published as Brutal stats show Broncos panic under pressure - and Reece Walsh is the scapegoat
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