NRL 2023: The ‘embarrassing’ try that shamed Broncos into action
The Broncos have firmed into one of the NRL’s genuine premiership contenders - and the origins of their turnaround came from a single ‘embarrassing’ moment last season.
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The Broncos will this week celebrate the anniversary of a famous premiership win over the Dragons but it’s an “embarrassing’’ surrender to the same club that has lit a fire beneath them this season.
It helped to drive them through the rugged off-season and to two rousing wins over the Panthers and Cowboys in the first two rounds of the premiership en route to Saturday night’s match against the Dragons at Suncorp Stadium.
Broncos captain Adam Reynolds on Monday said the Broncos’ 22-12 loss to the Dragons in the final game last year – which potentially cost them a position in the finals – was a stinging memory.
WHAT. A. TRY. 🤯
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Mathew Feagai, take a bow!
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With their season on the line, players still talk about the embarrassment of the match-sealing try by Mathew Feagai when the Broncos dropped a ball and Feagai resembled a modern day Reg Gasnier, running through an astonishing eight missed tackles to score.
It was a sign things had to change.
“It was embarrassing,’’ Reynolds said of the loss.
“There is no other way to put it. Our season was on the line and we performed like that. We used a bit of that hurt through the preseason to remind us of how tough the competition is. There is no easy games.
“We have to make sure we come ready to play this weekend otherwise there will be the same result.
“As a whole team we have shifted our focus towards the defence side of things. That was one thing that let us down last year and one we needed to improve on. We have been working extremely hard to correct that.’’
Broncos fullback Reece Walsh is the talk of the competition after lighting up Suncorp with his freakish running game but Reynolds said there was a calculation behind what often looks like brilliant instinctive play.
“There is something special about Walshie. He is obviously a young kid who is still learning the game. He is a student of the game who learns the game very well. He is always looking at ways to get better. That’s encouraging.
‘A lot of young kids as soon as they get away from footy they forget about it. It shows his hunger and desire.’’
Many Broncos fans lament that Walsh was plucked from the club by the Warriors two years ago but others feel a term at another club enhanced his development as a player.
Bookmakers who have been writing off the Broncos for years are suddenly treating them as serious premiership threats.
A group of Broncos players assembling at City Hall on Friday to celebrate their 1993 grand final win over the Dragons are sure to be optimistic about the club’s prospects this season.
The Broncos have firmed to fourth favourites at $9 with the TAB to take the title and are ahead of the Storm ($10) and Cowboys ($13) in a market adjustment no-one was tipping a month ago.
WE OWN BRISBANE: BRONCOS’ JERSEY JAB FOR DOLPHINS DERBY
The Battle for Brisbane has taken another twist with the Broncos unveiling a jersey which reminds the surging Dolphins who owns the city.
The Broncos released their “City Jersey” as part of their Heart of Brisbane campaign which has extra importance given the Dolphins have started their first NRL season with two stirring wins and are capturing the hearts of floating fans.
The jersey features major Brisbane landmarks such as the Story Bridge, the Brisbane River, and the city skyline.
Just to underline their message, the Broncos will wear it for the first time in their round four match against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium on Friday, March 24.
It comes as the Broncos celebrate their 1993 & 1998 premiership teams with a luncheon at City Hall on Friday.
“Nothing feels better than wearing Brisbane on our sleeves, and across our chests, representing this great club and this great city, that has truly opened its heart to myself and my family,’’ Broncos captain Adam Reynolds said.
“We’ll be wearing this special jersey with enormous pride when we take on our newest Queensland rivals, and we hope the people of Brisbane take great pride in watching us run out onto Suncorp Stadium, a place we have called home for 20 years now.
“For us, we’re more than a football club, we’re part of this city and everything it’s about. We play, live and raise our families in one of the greatest spots in the world.”
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