Broncos' halfback Peter Wallace admits he was 'embarrassing' against Eels

BRONCO Peter Wallace has admitted he was ''very average'' in the loss to wooden-spoon favourites Parramatta and knows he must try harder.

BESIEGED halfback Peter Wallace has pledged to put his game under the microscope to reignite Brisbane's teetering title campaign after describing his performance against wooden-spoon favourites Parramatta as "very average".

Installed as Brisbane's senior playmaker after the retirement of Darren Lockyer, Wallace has been outstanding for most of the year but hit rock bottom in the Broncos' embarrassing 42-22 capitulation against the Eels on Monday night.

The portents for a grim evening were evident from the outset when Wallace had an early clearing kick charged down by Eels hooker Nathan Smith, who scored to start Parramatta's seven-try rampage at Suncorp Stadium.

The former NSW Origin halfback went on to miss six tackles and make three handling errors before his horror night was ended by a head knock 15 minutes from fulltime.

Brisbane operations chief Andrew Gee last week turned up the heat on Wallace and halves partner Corey Norman, describing their recent form as "terrible", and the Broncos No.7 admits it is time to lift his game.

"I was very average," said Wallace, who was comprehensively out-pointed by Parramatta counterpart Chris Sandow.

"It was embarrassing. Everything needs to be better. I have a lot of work to do on my game and we all have to turn around our attitude.

"I didn't see that coming at all. I felt all right coming into the game but it was just a bad performance.

"I hope we can turn things around quickly. We have put a lot of effort in through the year to throw it all away now."

Despite feeling a "bit rattled" in the sheds, Wallace says he will be fit for Sunday's trip to face the Raiders at Canberra Stadium.

Wallace has been criticised for playing too laterally in recent weeks and he again struggled to impose himself on the Parramatta defence, managing just 27 metres from four runs.

Teammates yesterday rallied around Wallace and Norman, saying Brisbane's inability to reach the advantage line was putting pressure on their playmakers.

"It's hard for Corey and Pete to create things if we aren't giving them something to play off," Broncos utility Ben Hunt said.

"I don't think you can blame the halves. We need to get some go-forward first.

"As a playmaker, if you're getting slow play-the-balls you can't create too much. If we get our go-forward right it will help them."

Kiwi Test star Alex Glenn backed Wallace to bounce back, starting against the Raiders.

"Pete has been copping a hard time, with everyone saying he's down on form, but I still rate him one of the best and toughest halfbacks in the competition," Glenn said.

"He's a strong man to go out on the field in the face of all this criticism he's copping.

"It's definitely something Hook (Griffin) has been pushing with the halves, to run the ball more often instead of (passing) out the back."