NRL 2022: Brisbane Broncos ditch cellar and set sights on glorious new era
The Broncos begin their latest campaign acutely aware they are mired in a 16-year premiership drought. Coach Kevin Walters says a new era must begin now.
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Enough is enough.
Two years of Broncos misery is over.
That is the emphatic message from Kevin Walters and Payne Haas as Brisbane’s coach and best player pledged to spearhead a new era of premiership dominance for the embattled Broncos.
Brisbane head into Friday night’s 2022 premiership opener against Souths at Suncorp Stadium acutely aware an entire generation of Broncos players have failed to deliver the NRL trophy for the ailing glamour club.
The Broncos are mired in a 16-year premiership drought and are under pressure to play finals football this year after the heartache of a wooden-spoon and 14th-placed finish in the past two seasons.
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But Walters and Haas are united in their mission to reprise Brisbane’s glory days, with the Broncos coach declaring the club must stop living on the past glories of six premierships and create a new chapter of legends.
“The group of players here now have to work together to create our own piece of history,” Walters said.
“Every time I think of the Broncos, it’s more than just finals football. It’s about a winning culture.
“I’m sure every club wants to win the premiership this year, but the key for us is not to dwell on the past.
“What happened 30 years ago at the Broncos is not really relevant anymore.
“They were great memories for myself and ‘Alfie’ (halfback icon Allan Langer) and all the players that were involved in those premierships, but it doesn’t mean anything to the current squad.
“It’s time for these guys to put their own stamp on the place and forge their own legacy at the Broncos.”
Broncos bosses have a three-year strategy to deliver the club’s seventh premiership by 2025 and Haas — the code’s No. 1 prop — is at the vanguard of Brisbane’s posse of emerging stars hungry for success.
The Broncos believe they possess a crop of young guns as talented as any group in the code.
The likes of Kotoni Staggs, Selwyn Cobbo, Tesi Niu, Jordan Riki, Pat Carrigan, Ezra Mam, Tom Flegler and TC Robati have at least 10 years of NRL ahead of them and Haas, the three-time Paul Morgan Medallist, says Broncos players are sick of life in the cellar.
“I never settle for less than the best and I want the Broncos to be the best,” Haas said.
“I believe we will play finals this year. If we don’t make the finals this year, it’s a massive failure and I would be really disappointed in ourselves.
“A lot has changed at the Broncos. I’ve seen a change in the club under Kevvie. This is a special club and I know we have the young guys coming through here to get to the top.
“I believe in this game, if you work hard, the results will come. I want to bring that trophy back to the Broncos.
“I want to help us build that legacy and make the Broncos successful again.”
The Broncos are $3.75 outsiders to beat last year’s grand finalists Souths without star recruit Adam Reynolds, but Walters is confident his troops will be mentally and physically tougher this season.
“What we need to do is start the journey well,” he said.
“I was happy with the back end of last season and if we can start somewhere near that, that would be great.
“I believe our squad is so much stronger across the board with our depth and experience.
“I’m looking forward to a big season.”
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