NRL Round 25 2024: Brisbane Broncos must make finals charge without Walsh or Haas

Broncos coach Kevin Walters has made a bold declaration about Brisbane’s chances of playing finals footy this year while also dropping some bad news about two of his injured stars.

A defiant Kevin Walters has declared “we will play finals” despite the Broncos coach ruling out star duo Reece Walsh and Payne Haas for next Saturday’s Battle of Brisbane blockbuster.

The Broncos kept their slim finals hopes alive with a gutsy but uninspiring 30-24 disposal of second-last placed Parramatta at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

The victory moved Brisbane (10-12) to 26 competition points, setting up a mouth-watering death-or-glory showdown with Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins in a crucial Battle of Brisbane derby.

The ninth-placed Dolphins (+15) are also on 26 competition points (with one game in hand), just ahead of Brisbane (+2) on percentages, and the loser will almost certainly be finished as a finals force in 2024.

Kevin Walters (inset Reece Walsh).

As it stands, St George Illawarra could blow the Broncos and Dolphins out of the water.

The Dragons (28 points) are one win ahead of Brisbane and the Dolphins and consecutive victories over Cronulla on Sunday and the Eels next Saturday would make the Battle of Brisbane redundant.

But coach Walters rubbished suggestions the Broncos’ season is over and hit back at critics by boldly claiming struggling Brisbane – last year’s grand finalists – will play sudden-death football this season.

“There is no ‘if’ here, we’re going to make the finals,” Walters said.

Asked if Brisbane can be a genuine threat in the playoffs, the Broncos mentor added: “Yeah, I definitely think so, but we’re getting a bit far ahead.

“We will make the finals, but we’ve got to play well next week against Redcliffe.

“We didn’t play well and we managed to win but if we come up with that next week (against the Dolphins) it won’t be the same result.”

The Broncos managed to overcome the Eels without injured duo Walsh and Haas and Walters concedes the pair are virtually no hope of facing the Dolphins.

While Broncos medicos believe Walsh (hand) and Haas (foot) will return this season, Walters will resist the temptation to rush his big guns back with Brisbane’s season on life support.

It is understood Walsh and Haas are on track to play in the final round against Melbourne if the Broncos’ season is still alive.

“He won’t be available next week, no,” Walters said of Walsh, who did some light running at training last week.

“We’ve got Ben Te Kura (returning), Fletcher Baker’s back training and he’s playing this weekend as well (in the Queensland Cup), so there’s some good options there for us.

“I’m not sure on Payne Haas, he probably won’t be next week, but he’ll be (available) the week after.”

In reality, the Broncos are miles away from their sizzling form at the corresponding stage last season.

Never gets old 🍻 pic.twitter.com/jqqvqX3w8n

— Brisbane Broncos (@brisbanebroncos) August 23, 2024

While Brisbane were on the charge to the grand final 12 months ago, the Broncos’ class of 2024 is clunky in attack, low on confidence and making too many errors to challenge the top four.

It will take a massive turnaround for Brisbane to produce a premiership fairytale. Walters knows it.

“I’m just a little bit frustrated really,” he said.

“It was not a very good start from our fellas, we went against everything that we spoke about to start.

“But I admire their courage to stay in the game and fight hard through that first half.

“It was a much-needed win, obviously, but it also wasn’t that pretty.

“The important thing was to come here and win. The whole team can be better.”

Brisbane’s erratic performance was crystallised by Adam Reynolds. Their skipper claimed man-of-the-match honours with a late intercept try that sealed victory, but Reynolds rued some poor decisions, including his kick out on the full in the dying minutes.

“There were just moments in the game I could have been better, simple as that,” he said.

“There was a lot on the line. There were moments in the game there I was happy with but also moments I’m not proud of.”

Payne Haas should be fit for the final round of the regular season says Kevin Walters. Picture: Tertius Pickard

MATCH REPORT: REYNO SAVES THE DAY IN BRONCOS BOILOVER

The Little Master has kept Brisbane’s season alive … just.

Champion playmaker Adam Reynolds produced a captain’s knock as the Broncos overcame a woeful first-half siesta to keep their slim finals hopes alive with a gutsy 30-24 disposal of the Eels on Friday night.

Before 36,289 at Suncorp Stadium, the bumbling Broncos’ season appeared to have imploded when the Eels posted three tries in the opening 12 minutes to charge to a shock 16-0 lead.

But second-last placed Parramatta lost the plot, drowning in a sea of errors, opening the door for Reynolds and Tristan Sailor to combine for the one-two knockout punch that saved the Broncos.

Adam Reynolds inspired a Broncos comeback to steal victory, after trailing 16-0 in the first half. Picture: Getty Images

With the game in the balance at 18-all entering the final quarter, Reynolds broke the deadlock, swooping on a loose pass from Eels centre Blaize Talagi to give the Broncos a crucial 24-18 lead.

The skipper then struck again three minutes later, slotting a sublime grubber for Kotoni Staggs to bury pathetic Parramatta and keep Brisbane breathing in the finals race.

“He’s our captain and leader,” Broncos coach Kevin Walters said of Reynolds. “He is a bit disappointed with his game overall, he can be better, we can all be better.”

Reynolds puts the foot down, and the Broncos have hit the front for the first time tonight 💥

📺 Watch #NRLBroncosEels on ch.502 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/BwSSxtllI7
✍️ BLOG https://t.co/mabVcfz1zF
🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/IrDnfP7BG0pic.twitter.com/bDEufFlFZ1

— Fox League (@FOXNRL) August 23, 2024

STAYIN’ ALIVE

This was hardly vintage Brisbane. They trailed 16-12 at halftime. But the only narrative that mattered was this: the Broncos aren’t dead yet.

The Broncos (26 competition points) are one win adrift of the Dragons (28), who play Cronulla on Sunday, and will stay alive if they beat the Dolphins (26) in next Saturday’s Battle of Brisbane.

Brisbane’s finals hopes could hinge on their last-round home clash against the Storm on Thursday week.

“I was a bit frustrated,” Walters said of the 16-0 deficit. “It wasn’t a good start from our fellas.

“We went against everything we spoke about, but I admired their courage to stay in the game.

“We got the job done.”

Reynolds scored a late try and set up another to put the Broncos in front in the dying minutes. Picture Getty Images

HELLO SAILOR

He’s had a patchy 2024 campaign but Sailor was magnificent as he stepped up with one of Brisbane’s tries of the season.

In the absence of injured Reece Walsh, fullback understudy Sailor overcame a slow start with a scintillating 60-metre solo effort in the 32nd minute.

Brisbane were floundering at 16-0. They were craving a piece of magic. Sailor duly delivered it, taking an Adam Reynolds pass, pushing off Blaize Talagi, racing upfield and scorching past opposite Clint Gutherson to kick the Broncos out of first gear.

The son of Wendell then threw a sublime face ball for Selwyn Cobbo’s 56th-minute try in a fine display.

“That was his best game for us this year,” Walters said.

Sailor does it all on his own ⭐

📺 Watch #NRLBroncosEels on ch.502 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/BwSSxtllI7
✍️ BLOG https://t.co/mabVcfz1zF
🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/IrDnfP7BG0pic.twitter.com/25GCIQ4j3o

— Fox League (@FOXNRL) August 23, 2024

COBBO’S COMEBACK

After a month-long lay-off following his shocker against the Bulldogs, Selwyn Cobbo produced a barnstorming comeback to underline why, at his best, he is a Broncos matchwinner.

Cobbo started the season at left centre. This is evidence he is a better winger. The Maroons ace terrorised the Eels with 146 metres and 11 tackle busts, capping a fine game when he crossed 24 minutes from time to level scores at 18-all.

Selwyn Cobbo impressed in his return with some barnstorming runs, and may have played his way back into a winger. Picture: Getty Images

REALITY CHECK

Brisbane are still in the top-eight race but on this performance, they don’t deserve to play finals football.

Their opening 12 minutes, when they leaked three tries to trail 16-0, was an embarrassment. It was only Parramatta’s ineptitude and defensive fragility that kept the Broncos in the contest.

The Broncos are miles away from the slick juggernaut that powered to last year’s grand final. They need to find confidence and slick offensive shapes quickly if they want to be competitive in the playoffs.

The Eels hopes of avoiding the wooden spoon have suffered a blow, after dropping a 16-point lead against the Broncos. Picture: Getty Images

SLIPPERY EELS

The season can’t end quickly enough for the embattled Eels, who underscored their dismal season by inexplicably botching a 16-0 lead.

It is hard to believe this is the same Parramatta club that played in the NRL grand final two years ago.

Now they are a rabble. Even without star halfback Mitchell Moses, they were flat out playing with any consistency and cohesion for 40 minutes, let alone 80.

It’s official ladies and gentlemen. We’re having a full-blown spoonbowl. Loser takes all. #NRLBroncosEels

— Scott Bailey (@ScottBaileyAAP) August 23, 2024

The Eels will finish the weekend equal last with the Wests Tigers, ahead only on percentages. Their last-round clash at Campbelltown on Friday week shapes as the battle for the wooden spoon.

Originally published as NRL Round 25 2024: Brisbane Broncos must make finals charge without Walsh or Haas