NRL 2022: Brisbane Broncos player ratings from New Zealand Warriors clash

Things could go from bad to worse for several Broncos players after their diabolic loss to the Warriors on Saturday. See who is in the firing line in our player ratings.

Did you get the rego number of that bus? The one covered in Warriors colours and driven by prime suspect Matthew Lodge, who ruthlessly hit top gear, leaving the Broncos as Redcliffe roadkill in a 20-6 massacre at Moreton Daily Stadium.

Broncos coach Kevin Walters blew a gasket on match eve when it was suggested last Sunday’s 38-12 derby debacle against the Cowboys was a throwback to last year’s defensive capitulations.

He called the claims “garbage”. But this Warriors implosion, headlined by fiery front-rower Tom Flegler falling foul of the law more times than Ben Barba, is headed straight for the Redcliffe peninsula dump.

The Broncos were thoroughly outplayed by the Warriors and it shows in our player ratings. Picture: Getty Images.

1. TESI NIU - 4

Any chance Reece Walsh can be loaned back to the Broncos? Niu had a Barry Crocker against the Cowboys last Sunday and while he was marginally better this time, he is a long way from living up to the ‘Best Broncos Fullback Since Lockyer’ tag.

Niu amassed 150 metres and had four tackle busts, but none of his 13 runs were match-igniting moments. There are still question marks over his positioning, safety under the high ball and his ability to link with his supports on backman plays. Walsh carved him up in their fullback duel. Kevvie’s axe could be hovering.

2. COREY OATES - 4

Some brave runs by Oates but the speed that has swept him to 100 career tries is quickly deserting him. Can be as slow to turn as the Kookaburra Queen and is taking time to wind up on the kick returns that once made him one of the best backfield runners in the code. His inability to snaffle a 65th minute intercept summed up his afternoon.

3. KOTONI STAGGS - 4

Brisbane’s most lethal attacking player is a man down on confidence. After his Cowboys shocker, Staggs tried to go looking for the ball but he was largely well-contained by the Warriors. After one promising run in the second half, Staggs got up and starting sucking in the big ones as if asked to chase down Usain Bolt. Finished with 19 tackles, but needs to get fitter and work on effort-on-effort consistency.

Herbie Farnworth has been the Broncos best so far in 2022, but struggled to make a mark on this game. Picture: Getty Images.

4. HERBIE FARNWORTH - 5

Brisbane’s best player of the opening three rounds came crashing back to Planet Earth. Literally. His ribs will be hurting today after a 12th-minute hospital pass from Albert Kelly that saw the Warriors cut Herbie in half. Showed British toughness to eventually rise to his feet and finish with 93 metres and two tackle busts.

5. SELWYN COBBO - 4

Forget the next Latrell Mitchell stuff for a moment. Cobbo would do well to ignore the hype and focus on just being a consistent first grader. After his sublime start against Souths, Cobbo is learning some tough lessons in the NRL. He produced some fearless charges that are fast becoming his trademark but it was spliced with one missed tackle and five handling errors, including dropping one bomb cold in the second half as the wheels fell off.

Albert Kelly went off injured in the first half and didn’t make an impact on the game. Picture: Getty Images.

6. ALBERT KELLY - 2

Didn’t cover himself in glory with his early hospital pass for Farnworth and then limped off 10 minutes later with a suspected Lisfranc foot injury. Cowboys forward Jordan McLean missed five months with the same injury. Don’t expect to see Kelly in the No.6 jumper any time soon.

7. ADAM REYNOLDS - 5

Gets a pass mark - just- by virtue of his impressive 28th-minute grubber and regather which represented his maiden try in Broncos colours. Tried hard in defence, making 21 tackles, but Reynolds is fast learning life at Red Hill may not be as rosy as grand-final life under Uncle Wayne at Redfern. Some of his kicks lacked polish and he needs to find a way to unlock the attacking brilliance of Staggs on Brisbane’s right edge.

14. TOM FLEGLER - 2

A Broncos fan once called Tevita Pangai Jnr the dumbest player in NRL history. Flegler could be in the grand final after setting a new club record by being placed on report four times. Don’t wash your eyes with Rinse Aid. That’s right. Four times. Oh, and did we mention the sin bin? Flegler may need a confessional box instead seeking forgiveness from coach Walters, who was at a loss to explain how his star prop - in his first game back from suspension - may face suspension again! Flegler tried to atone with 30 tackles but he risks becoming a liability with ill-discipline that belongs in the UFC.

Tom Flegler had a stinker, spending 10-minutes in the sin bin and finding himself on report four times. Picture: NRL Images.

9. JAKE TURPIN - 3

It’s time for Kevvie to make the tough call on Turpin. No one can question Turpin’s bravery - he topped the tackle count with 42 - but Brisbane cannot play finals football unless they get some thrust and creativity out of dummy half. Turpin has been one-dimensional in the opening month and just one run for nine metres against the Warriors will not have next week’s opponents the Roosters reaching for sleeping pills. Cory Paix has to be a consideration for the No.9 jumper.

10. PAYNE HAAS - 6

As reliable as bank fees from your local lender. Big Payne has an engine that will purr all day, as evidenced by his Broncos best 179 metres, not to mention 41 tackles as he tried to hold the midfield tight when Pat Carrigan went off injured. But for all Haas’ grunt, he was kept under control by the Warriors big boppers and outgunned by his former Broncos front-row cohort Matt Lodge.

Payne Haas was solid, but didn’t do anything to show he’s worth $1 million a season. Picture: Getty Images.

11. KEENAN PALASIA - 4

The return of Kurt Capewell and Jordan Riki can’t come quickly enough. Palasia was exposed on the edges against the Cowboys last Sunday and the front-rower never looked comfortable trying to impose himself on the fringes. Caught out early for the opening try which made Jesse Arthars look like Greg Inglis. Six runs for 52 metres and 14 tackles is evidence his future lies exclusively in the middle.

16. TC ROBATI - 6

One of Brisbane’s better performers on a day to forget. ‘Tropical Cyclone’ started with a bang with a slick offload for Selwyn Cobbo and he had the most energy of any Broncos forward in the first half. Finished with 73 metres, three tackle busts, one offload and 21 tackles to suggest he has a promising future in the back row.

13. PAT CARRIGAN - 3

An afternoon of heartbreak for Carrigan, who limped off in the 27th minute with a knee injury after a questionable cheap shot from a Warriors defender. Carrigan was his usual busy self early but needs to find more balance with his second-phase after two poor offloads that led to turnovers. With Carrigan set to miss up to a month, Kobe Hetherington will be frothing like David Boon on a flight to Heathrow as he eyes off the No.13 jumper.

INTERCHANGE

8. RYAN JAMES - 4

A late demotion to the bench after being named in the starting side, this was not the type of contest for a 30-year-old in the twilight of his career. By the time James entered the fray, the Warriors were ripping up the midfield and James was playing catch-up for the rest of the afternoon.

15. KOBE HETHERINGTON - 4

One promising run in the second half when he made a half break, only for the Warriors defence to converge. Hetherington was one of Brisbane’s best players in the trials and with Carrigan to miss next week’s clash against the Roosters, this is his time to shine.

17. BILLY WALTERS - 3

His utility value came to the fore when Kelly limped off in the 22nd minute, paving the way for Walters to slot into second receiver duties alongside Reynolds. But on a day where Brisbane’s forwards were comprehensively beaten in midfield, Walters never had the latitude to reprise his impressive round-one performance against Souths. With Kelly sidelined for an extended period, Walters could be back in the Broncos No.6 jumper his dad once owned.

23. BRENKO LEE - 2

A strange selection on the bench. Lee looks the type of player who belongs either in the starting team or outside the 17 altogether. Walters chose him as potential cover for the centres and back row, but Lee won’t look back fondly on a Broncos club debut that yielded one run and four tackles.