NRL 2020: Matt Lodge says Broncos’ season is ‘a circus’
Broncos prop Matt Lodge hasn’t held back in his assessment of Brisbane’s shocking 2020, saying he feels for the younger players in what has been a ‘circus’ of a season.
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Frustrated Brisbane prop Matt Lodge has labelled the Broncos a “circus”, comparing the constant soap-opera-style drama at Red Hill to a reality TV show.
In a no-nonsense appraisal in the wake of Brisbane‘s 28-10 loss to the Rabbitohs, Lodge lamented the Broncos’ freefall into second-last spot ahead of next Saturday’s daunting road trip to face the Raiders in Canberra.
The embattled Broncos have won just one game in 11 weeks, and the constant speculation over coach Anthony Seibold’s future, coupled with the Kotoni Staggs revenge-porn saga last week, has created a spate of unwanted headlines.
“It’s like a reality TV show in Brisbane at the moment,” said a disappointed Lodge, who returned from a knee injury against the Rabbitohs on Friday night.
“It’s a circus.
“Everyone is coming at us, and it’s f---ing annoying.
“There is a lot of criticism coming at us and we need to start winning and stick together.
“We love playing footy. It will be good to show our younger guys what it’s like to be winning in Brisbane but at the moment it’s not happening and we have to wait for the good times.”
The Broncos are on track to record the worst season in their decorated 32-year history, officially bowing out of the finals race on Friday night after their capitulation at ANZ Stadium.
In this COVID-shortened NRL season, it is estimated 20 competition points will secure a finals spot. The Broncos have six competition points. Even if they were to win their final seven games, their horrendous differential (-223) will cost them a finals berth.
No Broncos side in history has failed to finish a season with double-digit wins. The Broncos’ class of 2013 is the worst-performed in their history, having won 10 of 24 games to finish 12th, leading to the sacking of then coach Anthony Griffin.
Seibold’s Broncos have three wins from 13 games, and on current form could finish the 20-round season with as few as five or six victories.
Lodge said he felt for some of the squad’s rookie players such as Herbie Farnworth, Tom Dearden and Pat Carrigan, admitting the constant defeats have dented everyone’s confidence.
“It‘s been a pretty shit year,” he said.
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“The younger guys ... you don’t want to bring them into a culture like this, one win from 11.
“They haven’t seen the good times yet, but a lot of those guys well if they ride this out. It’s a tough experience for them but there will be good times ahead.”
Broncos hooker Jake Turpin rued Brisbane‘s poor decision-making.
“There is a lot of effort, but just effort alone isn’t good enough,” he said.
“We have to be a smarter football team, we are letting teams score points too easily.
“When we fix that up, we might get some results.”
Originally published as NRL 2020: Matt Lodge says Broncos’ season is ‘a circus’