Ruthless Roosters run up a cricket score on Broncos at SCG
The 2020 Broncos are poised to earn an unwanted spot in the 32-year folklore of the club after a 10-try thrashing at the hands of the Roosters on Friday night.
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Brisbane’s class of 2020 are on the verge of becoming the biggest losers in the Broncos’ 32-year history after another defensive debacle in Friday night’s 58-12 collapse against the Roosters.
In the week Broncos coach Anthony Seibold fell on his sword, Brisbane’s annus horribilis continued as they conceded more than 40 points for the fourth time this season in a Bondi belting at the SCG.
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The Sydney Cricket Ground has witnessed a stack of Don Bradman centuries. The Roosters have racked up a ton of their own against the Broncos.
For the first time in 85 years, the Roosters amassed 100 points in one season against the same opponent, backing up their 59-0 defeat of the Broncos in round four with Friday night’s 10-try SCG shellacking.
In two games this season, the Roosters have beaten Brisbane 117-12. What a farce.
To compound Brisbane’s woes, prop Joe Ofahengaue was placed on report for kneeing, while back-rower Ben Te’o injured his wrist and could become the 11th Bronco on the sidelines.
With James Tedesco, Josh Morris and Sitili Tupouniua in blistering form, the Roosters ran riot, claiming a 24-6 halftime lead before slipping into overdrive to consign the Broncos to their 13th loss in 14 games.
Now, the Broncos are on the cusp of another humiliating statistic.
No Brisbane team in the club’s glorious history has ever lost 14 games in a regular season. If the Broncos lose to ladder leaders Penrith next Thursday night at Suncorp, Seibold’s 2020 campaign will be the darkest chapter of all.
DEFENSIVE DUDS
The first task for Brisbane’s next coach is overhauling the club’s defensive structures.
Not only do the Broncos lack consistent communication without the ball, but their defensive aptitude in the middle-third is embarrassingly brittle.
The Broncos have already leaked 523 points from 16 games this season and they are on track to surpass Ivan Henjak’s 2009 squad, who conceded 566.
Brisbane’s defence has zero heart or soul.
STAR OF DAVID
The Broncos will not be able to replace David Fifita next season. His departure to the Titans next season is a loss beyond belief. The back-row wrecking ball made six tackle busts and underlined his brutal brilliance when he beat four Roosters to score a fine solo try in the 56th minute.
‘O’ FOR ORDINARY
Ofahengaue must be axed for November’s Origin series. Ofahengaue made his Queensland debut last year but he has gone off the rails this season and appears to have lost his hunger to compete. Ofahengaue was supposed to be Brisbane’s front-row leader last night. Instead, he was a liability. He was placed on report for kneeing in the 14th minute and 60 seconds later, he came up with a shocking missed tackle for Isaac Liu to stroll over to give the Roosters a 12-0 lead.
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HALF THEIR LUCK
Courageous Tom Dearden is Brisbane’s great hope at halfback. Seibold signed Brodie Croft to drive Brisbane’s attack but the coach is gone and his halfback recruit should go with him. Dearden is the future.
Originally published as Ruthless Roosters run up a cricket score on Broncos at SCG