Broncos player ratings: Brisbane serve up steaming pile of insipid rubbish

Brisbane have returned to the bad old days of the start of the season with their dire 38-10 loss to Parramatta. Here’s who starred and who struggled.

Tevita Pangai of the Broncos leaves the field during the Round 14 NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the Brisbane Broncos at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney, Saturday, June 15, 2019. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

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What a steaming pile of insipid rubbish that was from Brisbane in the first half against Parramatta on Saturday night.

Uncompetitive, unacceptable garbage.

Anthony Seibold left the Brisbane coaches box a few minutes before halftime and you wouldn’t have blamed him for keeping on going to the nearest pub to drown his sorrows with his side trailing 26-0 after 40 minutes.

The Broncos showed a bit more fight in the second half but so what? The only way was up and it was far too little, far too late.

When the game was briefly in the balance, Brisbane just had no appetite for the contest.

Here’s the player ratings with the computer keys for the numbers 4 and 5 set to get a workout.

DARIUS BOYD - 4

Tried to lift his side with some crunching tackles and some fearless line-running…right after Parra scored their fifth try. Got found wanting for pace yet again when he failed to get across to a kick to stop Josh Hoffman from scoring.

Unable to clean up the mess created by Oates for another. Nice cutout ball for Oates’ try and played through pain after a heavy shot into his rib cage but still well short of what Brisbane needed from their captain.

Boyd had another night to forget. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts.

COREY OATES - 3

Play the theme song to the “Benny Hill Show”. A rare shocker. Couldn’t catch a cold. Lucky to get away with a no-call on a dropped ball early but then spilt a bomb, lost the ball when Brisbane was on a promising counter-attack and fumbled badly to hand David Gower a try when he lost the ball and fell over his feet. Managed to hold on to the Steeden long enough for a second half try.

KOTONI STAGGS - 4

Kicked out on the full from a kick-off. No excuse for that given how much practice he got kicking off on the night. Found some space out wide late when it really didn’t matter. Not much impact in attack.

GEMAHAT SHIBASAKI - 6

Did not come off his own line quick enough and fell for the old “hit-and-spin” move to allow Michael Jennings to score. Threw a nice pass under pressure to put Isaako away in the build-up to Gillett’s try. Had 164 running metres that included three tackle breaks and two line breaks.

JAMAYNE ISAAKO – 5

Got carried over the line like it was a father-son game when the giant Maika Sivo scored out wide. Nice kick infield for Gillett’s try. Missed a sitter just before halftime when Brisbane opted to take a shot at penalty goal so they’d only be four converted tries away from the Eels at the break. More involved in attack compared to recent weeks with 124 running metres and a linebreak and a tacklebreak.

Milford failed to take control when required. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images.

ANTHONY MILFORD - 4

Let O’Sullivan steer the side around which was totally fair enough – O’Sullivan was playing his second NRL game and the Milf is on a million bucks a year (sarcasm is hard to convey sometimes, hope you got it).

Was content to pretty much just kick in the first half. Ran a little more in the second half and looked dangerous but too little, too late. Gave away a silly penalty when Brisbane had the Eels pinned in their own half. Not good enough from one of the blokes on the big bucks.

SEAN O’SULLIVAN - 6

Very handy first outing for the Broncos in the top grade given he played behind a pack that was blown off the park in the first half. Some nice darting runs, judicious kicks and was happy to lead some blindside raids. Did not look out of place at this level.

MATT LODGE - 6

Hungry for work early and did an extra long first stint. Had 124 running metres in the middle and made 30 tackles. Started doing some Benji Marshall-style mid-air sidesteps and fancy passes in the second half. Not your go big fella.

JAKE TURPIN - 4

Got hooked when his stinker of a night hit rock bottom when he fumbled the ball which then fell in the lap of Josh Hoffman who ran away to score. Troubles with his passing game all night as he threw some shockers to O’Sullivan. A few borderline passes could have been called forward too. The Broncos might be happy for him to go to the Dogs now.

Jake Turpin’s good run of form came to an end. AAP Image/Dan Peled.

PAYNE HAAS – 5.5

Finished with 137 running metres and 29 tackles. Quiet in is first shift but worked his way into the match when the Eels had the two premiership points wrapped up.

DAVID FIFITA - 5

Was channelling his inner Michael Hancock with some cross-field runs. Somebody tell the kid he’s enormous and just needs to run straight. Missed a big chunk of game time when he had a HIA in the first half.

MATT GILLETT - 5.5

The knee of Michael Jennings made a mess of his nose in the first half and was forced off the field after looking as bloody as a patient in an episode of “MASH”. Backed up well on the inside to score Brisbane’s first try. Got through a team-high 35 tackles.

TEVITA PANGAI JNR - 5

Not terrible but not super. Was arguably Brisbane’s best forward in the first half when he made 17 tackles and ran for 57 metres. Had four offloads and a linebreak assist but the Broncos need him to have a greater impact, much more often.

Pangai Junior couldn’t find his rhythm. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts.

ANDREW MCCULLOUGH - 4

Should return to the starting side next outing. Had to wait 50 minutes to get into the game and proved he is no impact player. Got through a mountain of defensive work with 23 tackles but did not trouble the Eels in attack. He’s a starter, not a spark off the bench.

JAYDN SU’A – 4

Not a great influence coming off the bench. Thirty running metres and 15 tackles. Might find himself back in the Intrust Super Cup if he cannot do more when injected into the contest.

TOM FLEGLER - 4

Five hit-ups for 38 metres and 23 tackles. Part of a young Brisbane bench forward rotation that was unable to stem the significant Parramatta momentum that confronted them when they were thrown into the game.

PATRICK CARRIGAN – 4

Six hit-ups for 43 metres and 16 tackles. See the above comment about the Baby Bronco bench forwards that faced a tough task when they stepped over the white stripe.