NRL 2024: Brisbane Broncos chief Dave Donaghy addresses club’s dramatic crash; Las Vegas, injuries, State of Origin, Kevin Walters

Broncos chief Dave Donaghy has called for calm amid Brisbane’s tough run to the finals, insisting the club’s grand final redemption quest isn’t dead despite an Origin and injury-induced crash.

What has gone wrong at the Broncos in 2024?

Broncos chief Dave Donaghy has called for calm amid Brisbane’s 2024 capitulation and insisted the club’s grand final redemption quest isn’t dead despite an Origin and injury-induced crash.

The Broncos are fighting to keep their NRL premiership dream alive, with a win against the Knights a step in the right direction.

After losing last year’s decider to Penrith in heartbreaking circumstances, the Broncos were widely-tipped to challenge for this season’s premiership.

Instead, the NRL powerhouse is sitting 11th on the ladder with a 8-10 record and coach Kevin Walters is under pressure to turn the tide with six games to play.

Donaghy addressed the major issues at Red Hill which sees Brisbane’s season teetering.

“I don’t think we can stand here in judgement of our season with a third of the competition to go. We will do that at the end of the year once it’s all said and done,” he said.

“There’s a lot of positivity within the group and they are still really connected. We’ve got some troops coming back.

“There’s still a long way to go and a big opportunity ahead, everyone knows what needs to be done to get back on track and finish strongly.”

Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy believes the club has time to salvage the 2024 season. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

THE CRASH

Walters took charge of the Broncos following the 2020 wooden spoon nightmare under Anthony Seibold and immediately embarked on a Red Hill revolution.

Donaghy joined shortly after and the Broncos climbed to 14th in 2021 and ninth in 2022 before last year’s fairytale run to the grand final.

The Broncos looked destined to clinch the club’s first NRL title since 2006 before Penrith mounted a remarkable comeback to secure a third-straight premiership.

Despite battling persistent injuries this season, Brisbane was sitting comfortably with a 7-4 record after a one-point Magic Round win against Manly on May 17.

They now have to win five of their last six matches to secure a top eight berth.

“No two years are the same,” Donaghy said.

“Last year we had a really good run with injuries and at times this year it’s felt like we’ve run over a black cat and then backed over it, with the volume of injuries. (Against the Dragons) ‘Kevvie’ was allowed to name 23 players and could only name 20.

“The reality is everyone in the competition is getting better. That’s part and parcel of being part of one of the toughest competitions in the world.

“There will be a lot of learnings from this for us.

“Progression isn’t in a straight line. We want to make sure we learn from it to put pieces in place to get better and improve and of course, get every last bit out of 2024.”

GRAND FINAL AND VEGAS HANGOVER

Upon reporting for pre-season training in December, Walters made the squad sit through a replay of the grand final capitulation.

It was tough viewing, but the Broncos decided they needed to rip the Band-Aid off and move on before they embarked on the NRL’s first Las Vegas mission, which culminated in a disappointing, and drama-charged, loss to the Roosters.

The Broncos were on the back foot from round 1 and failed to register back-to-back wins until round 7. Their season has never taken off.

Las Vegas was a fiery affair. Picture: Getty Images

“At the start of the year Kevvie addressed the grand final with the group, they sat through the game and put it to bed,” Donaghy said.

“Vegas was a big exercise for the club and game but one we felt really important to be part of as the biggest club in the game.

“If it’s going to be an important growth area for rugby league then we wanted to support it. Everyone bought into that.

“It certainly didn’t hurt us when we were 7-4 heading into the Gold Coast game (round 12). No one was talking about a Vegas hangover then.

“Was it a distraction? Yes, but it was managed as best as it could have been. It’s not an excuse.”

ORIGIN OVERHAUL

The NRL has endured an unprecedented injury crisis this year and the Broncos have been hit as hard as any club.

Heading into their game against the Dragons in round 19, Brisbane had 12 players unavailable due to injury or State of Origin selection.

But most clubs have been impacted by injuries this season and the likes of the Storm, Panthers and Roosters have found a way to remain in the top four while the Broncos have bonked.

Captain Adam Reynolds returned from a 10-week absence against Newcastle and Origin quartet Reece Walsh, Pat Carrigan, Payne Haas and Selwyn Cobbo are back at Red Hill following a brutal series.

Donaghy said it was time for the NRL to review State of Origin scheduling given the enormous toll the game’s flagship event was taking on clubs.

Reece Walsh has struggled during the Origin period. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“I wouldn’t be opposed to Origin being stand-alone or playing it on a Monday night,” he said.

“We’re not only seeing players miss an NRL game because they’re in camp, but also the game after Origin due to the focus on player wellbeing.

“If you do that three times, they’re missing six NRL games which is a quarter of the season. That’s way too much, the clubs are the employers.

“Sitting in my seat, it’s a very difficult contest to watch. You’ve got your fingers crossed your players get through without injury because it’s so important to your club, members and fans.

“The premiership has become so important, valuable and popular that the time is right to seriously look at the options to ensure the Origin spectacle continues but the clubs are impacted less.

“Player wellbeing is our priority, they are the talent and stars of the show. The fans come to games to watch the athletes.

“We’re not using Origin as an excuse, but it is a distraction and the onus is on us moving forward to improve our management of the period but also the game to look after the clubs.”

COACHING CONUNDRUM

Walters, 56, has done a fine job in resurrecting the Broncos since the darkest period in the club’s proud 36-year history.

He went within a whisker of securing his first NRL premiership as a coach last year, but is now facing another tough challenge.

If the Broncos finish outside the top eight this year it will mean they’ve missed the finals in three of the four seasons Walters has been in charge. The grand final has bought him time, but that record won’t read well.

He is also facing some changes within his ranks as assistants John Cartwright and Lee Briers prepare to depart, prompting suggestions of a fracture within the all-important coaching unit.

Broncos coach Kevin Walters is under pressure to turn things around. Picture: Fox League

“The guys went through a mid-season review process and I was really pleased with how they openly challenge each other in a constructive way to make the program better,” Donaghy said.

“Everyone is really aligned to that and the coaches work well together, they complement each other.

“It’s been a challenging period, but you learn a lot from your toughest tests. Their challenge is to fight their way through it and come out the other side.

“It’s a difficult job being the head coach of an NRL team. Kev is always the first in and last out at the club to plot the path back out.

“They’re all working really hard to play their part in getting us back on track.”

RECRUITMENT REVIEW

A club stacked with individual talent will always face a delicate salary cap juggle and the Broncos confronted that last year during their charge to the grand final.

They couldn’t compete with offers from the cashed-up Dolphins for Test reps Tom Flegler and Herbie Farnworth and also farewelled grand final players Kurt Capewell (Warriors) and Keenan Palasia (Titans).

Upgrading rising stars Ezra Mam and Walsh hasn’t been cheap along with Blues enforcer Payne Haas and they face a fight to retain Cobbo and Kotoni Staggs next year.

Having not recruited extensively last year, the injuries have exposed Brisbane’s depth and Donaghy said the club would be stronger once its young guns got more experience.

Re-signing Ezra Mam has cost the Broncos big money. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

“The salary cap is a difficult juggle. You’d love to keep everyone every year, but the reality is you just can’t,” he said.

“We’ve had a lot of discussions around the roster and the impact of losing those guys. When someone leaves, others get the opportunity to step up and we need to make sure we’re doing everything we can to support them as they progress through.

“I feel like we are but there’s always areas we can improve. We’ve identified some of those and will put pieces in place to continue to do that.

“The injuries have been at the top end as well as those that form a key part of the squad’s depth. That makes it challenging for continuity.

“We’ve seen a guy like Brendan Piakura evolve his game with Kurt leaving and Ben Te Kura, who unfortunately got injured.

“It’s been a challenge for the group to get continuity and consistency due to injuries and rep commitments, but that’s part of our competition.”

TURF WAR

The introduction of the Dolphins last year has raised the stakes at Red Hill and there is a genuine battle this year to be crowned Queensland’s top club.

After a shocking start, the Titans (6-11) are closing in on the Broncos while the Cowboys (10-8) and Dolphins (9-8) have their noses in front.

With more than 60,000 members, average crowds of 40,000 at Suncorp Stadium and $75 million in revenue last year, the Broncos have never been stronger off the field.

Now they need the sustained on-field success to remain Queensland’s No. 1 club.

With such a talented squad and their best players on the way back from injury and Origin, there is hope for the Broncos to mount a late charge and salvage something from 2024.

“League is in really rude health in Queensland,” Donaghy said.

“The local rivalries are hotly-contested battles on the field and with the crowds. Our Redcliffe and Cowboys games were sellouts and the Gold Coast game was close.

“We want to beat each of them and ensure we are Queensland’s number one team.

“You can see the competitiveness of the group and their natural ability. There is cause for optimism when we get the whole group back to see what they’re capable of.

“The reality is it’s late in the piece now and everyone knows what needs to be done. I can assure the members and fans they’re working overtime to do everything they can to get some results.”