NRL 2020: Queensland faces ultimate humiliation as Broncos, Titans smashed

It’s been a rough weekend for footy fans in Queensland and the horror show could get even worse before heading back to work on Monday.

Broncos fans at Leichhardt were treated to a horror show.

It’s a good thing Queensland has put pressure on the AFL to host this year’s grand final because NRL teams in the Sunshine State won’t be challenging for any silverware.

Rugby league fans north of the Tweed have already suffered through an awful weekend and things could get even worse before Monday.

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Gold Coast and Brisbane were both thumped on Friday night, scoring just one try between them and conceding a staggering 90 points.

Melbourne blitzed the Titans 42-6 and Wests Tigers embarrassed the Broncos 48-0 at Leichhardt Oval, keeping a team scoreless for the first time in eight years.

There was hope Anthony Seibold’s men had turned a corner after beating the Bulldogs last week but they were abysmal against the Tigers as footy legends queued up to slam every aspect of their inept performance.

After winning their opening two games of 2020, the Broncos have won once in eight attempts since the season restarted after the coronavirus-enforced suspension. They’re at their lowest ebb in history and Seibold was a man without answers in the coaches box and in his post-match press conference in Sydney.

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The Broncos are out of answers.

Brisbane and Gold Coast sit 14th and 15th respectively, with a miserly six points each from 10 games.

The Titans are used to being cellar dwellers. They last made the finals in 2016 and finished 15th in 2017, 14th in 2018 and dead last in 2019.

But it’s uncharted waters for the Broncos, who as the NRL’s richest club aren’t used to organising a Mad Monday before September.

Come the end of Round 10, all three Queensland teams could occupy the bottom four positions on the ladder alongside Canterbury. The 12th-placed Cowboys are travelling to Sydney to face the third-placed Panthers in Penrith and 2010 Dragons premiership winner Jamie Soward isn’t holding out much hope of an upset.

#broncos #titans #cowboys could all concede 40 this weekend. Wow

— Jamie Soward (@sowwowofficial6) July 17, 2020

North Queensland’s recent form doesn’t bode well for Sunday afternoon’s clash. Two weeks ago the Cowboys were pumped 42-4 by Parramatta and last round the Roosters demolished them 42-16.

To make matters worse they’ll play Penrith without big-money signing Valentine Holmes, who may be out for the season with an ankle injury.

The Cowboys have only won once away from home this year and that was in round two — before the season was suspended — against the lowly Bulldogs.

If Paul Green’s troops lose and the 13th-placed Warriors beat the Sharks tomorrow, then three of the bottom four teams will be from Queensland.

Earlier this year Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) chairman Peter V’landys confirmed if and when the NRL looks to expand with a 17th team, the club will be based in Brisbane.

But given what we’ve seen this weekend, former NRL star Todd Carney has questioned where another Queensland side is going to find the talent needed to compete.

Where is the 17th NRL team getting there players from?

— Todd Carney (@tcarney06) July 17, 2020

Other QLD teams are doing well 🤷‍♂️

— Todd Carney (@tcarney06) July 17, 2020

Maybe Queenslanders can't play Rugby League & we need to cater for that? How about we give all Qld teams 28 pts start. They might win a couple of games! @NRL

— Chris Smith (@chrissmithonair) July 17, 2020

Still, at least the Brisbane Lions are going well.

Originally published as NRL 2020: Queensland faces ultimate humiliation as Broncos, Titans smashed