NRL 2022: Kevin Walters says Broncos must toughen up — Brisbane season review

SEASON REVIEW: Brisbane missed the finals for a third-straight season but it’s not all doom and gloom at Red Hill. Read the full Broncos post-mortem to find out why.

Brisbane Broncos coach Kevin Walters. Picture: NRL Photos

Brisbane coach Kevin Walters concedes the Broncos must get mentally tougher to avoid a repeat of one of the worst late-season collapses in NRL history.

Walters, like many in the code, still cannot fathom how the Broncos missed the finals in 2022.

They were in the top eight for 22 of 25 weeks and after 19 rounds, the Broncos were humming along in fourth spot and even tipped as a dark horse to win the premiership after a 36-14 rout of big guns Parramatta at CommBank Stadium.

Then came Brisbane’s form slump from hell. They lost five of their final six games, headlined by back-to-back beltings of 60-12 (Melbourne) and 53-6 (Parramatta) that broke the Broncos’ spirit as they eventually crashed to ninth.

It was a heartbreaking finish for a team surging towards a club-reviving finals campaign — and Walters says the late-season implosion is evidence Brisbane’s squad need a harder edge when the best teams go up a gear.

“We need to improve our general resilience and toughness among the group,” the Broncos coach said.

Kevin Walters says the Broncos must get mentally tougher. Picture: Jerad Williams

“That’s the thing we need to get better at.

“When we were on our winning streak (Brisbane won seven straight between rounds seven and 14), our defence was really good and we kept Manly to nil this year, which hasn’t happened for a few years at the Broncos.

“There are some good signs, but we have to improve our poorer performances and that comes down to defence and the tougher parts of the game, which is all mental.”

While Brisbane’s shock finale was a black eye, their overall season warrants a pass mark.

The Broncos finished with a winning 13-11 record and their 13 triumphs were almost twice as many victories Walters achieved the previous season, when Brisbane finished third last in 14th and saluted just seven times.

It was Brisbane’s best winning ratio since 2018. The last Broncos team to win 13 games and miss the finals was Wayne Bennett’s class of 1991, underlining how unlucky Walters was not to deliver a top-eight campaign.

While the Broncos’ defence fell apart in the final month, the 550 points they conceded in 2022 was still a vast improvement on the horrendous club-record of 695 they leaked 12 months earlier.

Walters can also take heart from some outstanding individual performances.

Adam Reynolds was a superb signing for the Broncos. Picture: NRL Photos

Marquee recruit Adam Reynolds proved the buy of the season, playing 20 games at halfback, while Pat Carrigan, Selwyn Cobbo and Kotoni Staggs clinched Origin debuts on the back of Brisbane’s mid-season charge.

Slick 19-year-old Ezra Mam was a fine discovery at five-eighth, while Corey Oates had a magnificent season, scoring 20 tries from 22 games with a form revival that saw him reclaim his Queensland Origin jumper.

The addition of Warriors whizkid Reece Walsh at fullback next season is another reason why Walters believes the Broncos are on the rise as they look to break a 17-year premiership drought.

“We are all disappointed with how the season ended, but we have done our review and identified where we need to be better in some areas,” Walters said.

“For 22 weeks, we were in the top eight and we were having a good season.

“The goal next year is not just finals, I want a premiership next year.

“There will only be one winner this year and all the other clubs will do their reviews and come back next year wanting to have a crack at winning it.

“The finals is a good stepping stone, but we have to work towards winning a premiership.”

Payne Haas and the Broncos’ never recovered from the side’s shock loss to Wests Tigers. Picture: Getty Images

BRONCOS 2022 SEASON IN REVIEW

What went wrong: Brisbane hit the wall at the worst possible time. Flying in fourth after 19 rounds, the Broncos faded badly in the final six weeks, their defence falling apart in shocking 60-12 and 53-6 losses to Melbourne and Parramatta on the eve of the finals. That dreadful fortnight shattered their spirit and confidence.

What went right: The purchase of Adam Reynolds and Kurt Capewell. Reynolds, in particular, was superb at halfback. He has finally given the Broncos a senior shot-caller and wise mentor for rising stars such as Selwyn Cobbo and Ezra Mam. Pat Carrigan was an ironman at lock.

Turning point: Their shock 32-18 home loss to eventual wooden-spooners Wests Tigers in round 20. It kickstarted a horror form slump which saw Brisbane go from fourth to ninth. The Broncos missed the finals by one win. That Tigers capitulation was a heartbreaker.

TRANSFER LOUNGE

Gains: Reece Walsh (Warriors), Jock Madden (Tigers).

Losses: David Mead (retired), Te Maire Martin (Warriors), Brenko Lee (Dolphins), Tyson Gamble (Newcastle), Jake Turpin, Albert Kelly (unsigned).

Who they should sign: The Broncos need a top-line hooker to complete their spine and a senior front-row enforcer to help support and mentor Payne Haas, who shoulders a huge burden up front for a 22-year-old.

Reece Walsh’s signing will boost the Broncos. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Predicted 17 for 2023: 1. Reece Walsh, 2. Corey Oates, 3. Herbie Farnworth, 4. Kotoni Staggs, 5. Selwyn Cobbo, 6. Ezra Mam, 7. Adam Reynolds, 8. Payne Haas, 9. Cory Paix, 10. Tom Flegler, 11. Kurt Capewell, 12. Jordan Riki, 13. Pat Carrigan. Bench: 14. Billy Walters, 15. Kobe Hetherington, 16. Corey Jensen, 17. Keenan Palasia.

Why they’ll improve: The arrival of fullback whizkid Reece Walsh will give the Broncos some X-factor and another attacking weapon in their spine. Brisbane’s roster has a good blend with talents such as Selwyn Cobbo, Pat Carrigan, Kotoni Staggs and Ezra Mam on the rise. If champion halfback Adam Reynolds stays fit and Brisbane find a harder edge in defence, they will play finals football in 2023.