Brisbane Broncos players and staff arrive at Red Hill for crisis meeting
A pair of underperforming Broncos veterans may have played their final NRL game for the club as the fallout from Brisbane’s record finals defeat continues.
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Broncos captain Darius Boyd faces the prospect of finishing his career in the Intrust Super Cup next year after a swag of senior Brisbane players were told to lift their games or risk not playing first grade again.
The Broncos fallout is set to continue with key long-term players, staff and personnel left sweating on decisions to be made when the Broncos board meets on Friday.
It follows Thursday season review in which a number of senior players, including Boyd and Andrew McCullough, were left in no doubt they must improve their performance next season or face being replaced by fresh blood.
Both players remain contracted with the club until the end of next season.
The playing group gathered at Red Hill yesterday to dissect their season and Sunday’s embarrassing 58-0 elimination final loss to Parramatta.
No players or staff fronted up to the waiting media, but veteran Bronco McCullough told HIT105: “I’m not blind to the fact that things may need to happen or what.
“The reality is, we didn’t perform well and things start to speculate when overall the team’s performance isn’t up to scratch.”
The Broncos football operations and player culture are under the microscope in the aftermath of the Eels’ demolition.
The Broncos board is expected to meet at the club’s $27 million high-performance facility tomorrow to hold further discussions as part of a review into the club’s future.
Yesterday’s developments come as the Rugby League Players Association warned mounting criticism on players to walk away from their contract was “completely unnecessary”.
RLPA chief executive Ian Prendergast said he was not concerned about the situation at Red Hill after speaking to Brisbane officials and players but it was a timely reminder for NRL clubs to be aware of contract security.
Mr Prendergast said public pressure on players to walk away from their contracts was unnecessary and unfair.
“Some of the commentary relating to players recently has been irresponsible and unfair,” Prendergast said.
“Our members are accustomed to being criticised for their on-field performances – that’s part of being a professional rugby league player.
“In fact, the level of scrutiny players are under has never been so great.
“However, we are concerned that the intensity and targeted nature of this commentary is spilling over at times and becoming unacceptable.
“Placing public pressure on players to walk away from their contract or retire from the game is completely unnecessary.
“This is a personal decision for the individual that they should not be forced into, particularly given we’re talking about their livelihood.”
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He said the RLPA would be monitoring contract security across the NRL.
“Hopefully ‘tapping players on the shoulder’ is something that is becoming a thing of the past, particularly when we constantly talk about lifting professional standards across the game,” he said.
Queensland coach Kevin Walters, a former Broncos great who missed out on the coaching job to Seibold, on Tuesday night told Fox Sports there was “clearly something not right” at the club after it was revealed that six players had spent the evening before the Eels game playing the pokies.
“I’m not sure sitting in front of a poker machine is in any way going to help you the next day,” Walters said.
“It was disappointing to hear that was happening the night before a game and the biggest game of the year.
“I’m sure the Broncos today are really scratching their head saying how did this all happen.
“Talent can’t be one of the reasons because they’ve got eight State of Origin players and three guys that have played international football.
“So there’s clearly something not right at the Broncos but what that is I don’t know because I’m not in the inner sanctum.”
Originally published as Brisbane Broncos players and staff arrive at Red Hill for crisis meeting