NRL 2022: Mid-season report cards on Brisbane Broncos, NQ Cowboys, Gold Coast Titans
The Broncos and Cowboys have come back to life in 2022 while the Titans have nose-dived after making the finals last year. Travis Meyn picks the good, bad and ugly for each club.
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The Queensland rugby league landscape has been flipped on its head this season.
The Gold Coast Titans were the toast of the Sunshine State last year when they were the only Queensland team to make the NRL finals as the Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys recorded bottom four finishes.
But it’s the Titans that find themselves in wooden spoon contention this year while the Broncos and Cowboys battle for a top four berth.
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At the halfway mark of the season, this is how Queensland’s teams are shaping up in 2022. Could we see a repeat of the famous 2015 NRL grand final between the Broncos and Cowboys?
BRISBANE BRONCOS
4th (8 wins, 4 losses)
On the back of the 2020 wooden spoon and a bottom four finish last year, the Broncos have come back to life in 2022.
Things were looking dire for coach Kevin Walters when the Broncos were sitting on a 2-4 record after six rounds, but they have won their past six games to rocket into top four contention.
Halfback Adam Reynolds has been arguably the buy of the season so far and the Broncos have had some big improvers like Selwyn Cobbo, Pat Carrigan and Herbie Farnworth.
Throw in a resurgent Corey Oates, a fit Kotoni Staggs and a great signing in Kurt Capewell and the Red Hill “Kev-olution” has swung into gear.
The challenge for Walters will be to guide the Broncos through the taxing State of Origin period and qualify for the finals for the first time since 2019.
The Broncos are in a great position to play finals football now and must not take their foot off the gas.
THE GOOD
There has been plenty of shining lights at Red Hill this season. Reynolds has been the player the Broncos had hoped for, and more. Cobbo’s rise on the wing has been meteoric and the Broncos are playing like a united club under Walters. They defend stoically and can attack all over the field.
THE BAD
Walters still hasn’t been able to nail down a long-term halves pairing and that threatens to be Brisbane’s biggest challenge. Tyson Gamble is serviceable and teenager Ezra Mam is a long-term prospect. Brisbane’s defence isn’t as sharp as the likes of Penrith and North Queensland. The Broncos have a challenging draw in the back half of the season, facing the Storm and Eels twice as well as the Roosters and Cowboys.
THE UGLY
The Payne Haas debacle is going to fester for the rest of the season until there is a decisive outcome. Walters is going to have to manage Haas’ request for a release well to ensure it doesn’t impact his team’s performances.
Predicted finish: 6th (14 wins, 10 losses)
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
3rd (8 wins, 4 losses)
The Cowboys have been the surprise packets of the 2022 NRL premiership.
After four consecutive bottom four finishes, the Cowboys have burst back to life in coach Todd Payten’s second year in charge.
They are firmly in top four contention and have beaten heavyweights Melbourne and Parramatta.
The Cowboys haven’t played finals since their 2017 grand-final loss to Melbourne and they have a fantastic opportunity this year to get back into the play-offs.
“We just keep turning up. I know we’re heading in the right direction,” Payten said.
“There’s real belief and desire in that group.”
THE GOOD
The Cowboys boast some of the NRL’s hottest young talents such as Jeremiah Nanai, Murray Taulagi, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Reuben Cotter. But it’s their defence which has been the secret to the North Queensland revival. The Cowboys are the NRL’s second-best defensive team behind reigning premiers Penrith and are being rewarded. Halfback recruit Chad Townsend has brought the leadership the club desperately needed. “We are closer than people think,” Townsend said.
THE BAD
The Cowboys have picked up some injuries recently with the likes of experienced campaigners Jason Taumalolo and Kyle Feldt sidelined. The possible Origin selections of Valentine Holmes, Cotter, Nanai and Tabuai-Fidow will further test the club’s depth. The Cowboys have burst out of the blocks in 2021, but they will now face their biggest challenge.
THE UGLY
The Cowboys have had a rails run when it comes to the draw in the first half of the season, only heading to Sydney once which resulted in a loss to Penrith. A favourable draw early on will catch up with them later in the year and they finish with games against the Roosters, Rabbitohs and Panthers in the final four weeks.
Predicted finish: 5th (15 wins, 9 losses)
GOLD COAST TITANS
14th (3 wins, 9 losses)
The Titans went into the season brimming with confidence following a drought-breaking finals appearance in 2021.
They went within a whisker of progressing to week two of the play-offs – losing by one point to the Roosters – which would have been a super successful season in coach Justin Holbrook’s second year in charge.
The Titans were so confident about the club’s rise that just weeks after their finals exit they made public declarations about wanting to win two NRL premierships by 2030.
But it has all come crashing down.
At the halfway point of the season, the Titans are sitting 14th with only three wins from 12 games.
The finals look like a pipe dream, with the Titans needing to win about nine of their remaining 12 games to have any chance of qualifying.
THE GOOD
Captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is carrying a big load and trying his heart out but he is headed for burnout this season. Jayden Campbell has showed some spark at fullback. Luckily for the Titans they have the most favourable draw in the NRL and could come home with a wet sail, but it won’t be easy.
THE BAD
Rookie halfback Toby Sexton is feeling the pressure of the NRL without an experienced playmaker in the Gold Coast’s spine to help him. Five-eighth AJ Brimson is playing injured and hasn’t found any consistency. The backline has been disjointed all season and makes too many errors.
THE UGLY
The Titans’ defence is in urgent need of an overhaul after conceding 300 points at an average of 25 a game. They have little experience or leadership in key positions to guide them to victory when in commanding positions. Holbrook has made some fatal recruitment errors with the balance of his squad and is paying the price despite his denials. “I’m blaming our whole side,” Holbrook said after squandering a 20-point lead against the Broncos. “I’m the coach and we’re meant to win games. I’m not here to defend myself and say it’s not my fault, but if we were getting beaten 40-nil and they tried that reckless stuff then I’d take a lot more blame.”
Predicted finish: 12th (8 wins, 16 losses)
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