NRL 2023: Broncos star Pat Carrigan’s worrying admission after Raiders loss

It proved to be Brisbane’s season killer in 2022 and Pat Carrigan reveals the high-flying Broncos fell victim to the same bad habit before the Raiders loss.

Brisbane suffered its first loss of the season. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty

Brisbane coach Kevin Walters has put his side on notice ahead of Saturday night’s Titans derby as Broncos stars conceded they were guilty of believing the premiership hype.

The Broncos’ table-topping, perfect 5-0 streak came to an end against struggling Canberra on Saturday night when they crashed to a shock 20-14 loss to a pumped-up Raiders outfit at Suncorp Stadium.

It was Brisbane’s first defeat to the Green Machine at Suncorp in 13 years and has given the ladder leaders a timely wake-up call as they prepare for a tricky road trip to Cbus Super Stadium to face derby arch rivals the Titans.

The Broncos’ flying start to the season saw them firm in premiership betting, with Queensland Origin legends Gorden Tallis and Gary Belcher among many pundits who declared Brisbane were the real deal in 2023.

But the Raiders ambush brought the unbeaten Broncos crashing back to earth and Queensland Origin star Pat Carrigan lashed Brisbane’s error-riddled, six-point defeat as “poor”.

Asked if Broncos players lost focus over the hype surrounding a possible premiership campaign this season, ironman lock Carrigan said: “Maybe a little.

“Anyone in the NRL can make you pay if you aren’t at your best and that’s what happened to us.

Brisbane suffered its first loss of the season. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty

“I just don’t think we earned the right (against the Raiders).

“There is plenty of skill and flair in our team, but if you try too hard with that and it doesn’t come off, it can affect you.

“Previously, our game has been based on effort areas and attitude.

“We know we have the ability to score points, but we let ourselves down (in the effort areas).

“Across the board, we were down, particularly in the midfield.

“It was one of those games where we would try and score on play one. The Raiders are a quality team and they were up, so I don’t want to take anything away from them, but it was a pretty poor performance from us.”

Before the Raiders clash, Walters said he wanted to instil a more ruthless edge for the Broncos to consider themselves bona fide title contenders.

The Canberra failure spotlighted that the Broncos can be vulnerable if opposition teams get physical and stick it to them in midfield.

Five premierships as a Brisbane legend is evidence Walters knows what it takes to win titles and the newly-resigned coach, who inked a two-year extension on Friday, challenged his troops to find more hunger - starting against the Titans.

“I said that to the guys, winning becomes a habit,” Walters said.

“We need to get all the little things right and we haven’t quite been there.

“I’m not a big fan of the ‘reset’ (after losing a game).

“Right from the kick-off, they (Canberra) were in the game and we were hesitant.

“Winning becomes a habit, so we have to get back on track, fix up our training and be ready for the Titans.”

Broncos captain Adam Reynolds warned Brisbane about their attitude and series of poor starts.

“I wouldn’t say that was finals (style intensity), it was well off that,” Reynolds said.

“It was clunky and we didn’t apply any pressure.

“We played into their hands and we got what we deserved.”

Originally published as NRL 2023: Broncos star Pat Carrigan’s worrying admission after Raiders loss