Brisbane Broncos at sixes and sevens after loss to Newcastle Knights

Newcastle captain Mitchell Pearce summed up the situation and in the process all that is wrong with Brisbane.

Newcastle skipper Mitchell Pearce led from the front against Brisbane at Central Coast Stadium. Picture: Getty Images

Newcastle captain Mitchell Pearce summed up the situation and in the process all that is wrong with Brisbane with two minutes remaining on a bitterly cold – and for Broncos supporters bitterly disappointing – night at Central Coast Stadium.

The Knights playmaker spotted some tiring forwards, stepped twice off his right foot and forced his way over under the posts to put the icing on a well-crafted cake. Pearce had run the show from the kickoff, leading the Knights to their best start in 18 years.

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Contrast that with Brisbane. The Broncos slumped to a fourth loss in their opening six games. They haven’t managed to pick up a competition point – nor have they scored a point in the second half of a game – since the NRL returned from COVID-19.

They have a run of four winnable games coming up against Gold Coast, the Warriors, Canterbury and Wests Tigers.

Then again, the way the Broncos are playing, their next win seems miles away. Pearce encapsulated the gaping chasm between these two sides. He provided the sort of control and guile that is absent at the Broncos.

Brodie Croft tried hard but couldn’t spark anything. Anthony Milford went missing in action. He ran the ball four times for nine metres according to Fox. The NRL website said six runs for 29 metres. Either way, it was woeful.

There will be calls for Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold to give young half Tom Dearden a chance and it is hard to argue. The Broncos aren’t getting any value out of the players who currently occupy the six and seven jerseys.

“Frustrating,” Seibold said.

“Made it really tough for ourselves. I thought there was plenty of effort, particularly in the first half. Good teams make you pay. It comes down to individuals taking responsibility.”

It feels like something has to give. It might be in the halves.

“There is no doubt we need more from our elite players,” Seibold said.

Having been let down by their own discipline at the same ground seven days ago, the Broncos seemed intent on repeating those mistakes as they conceded penalties and turned over possession in the opening half.

David Klemmer had been rattled by a front-on shot from returning Broncos enforcer Tevita Pangai but he had the last laugh as he ignited the move that opened the scoring. Klemmer’s offload allowed Pearce to create some space for Kurt Mann and he slid over.

Newcastle were off and running. The Broncos had a try disallowed and their night got worse moments later when Jamayne Isaako prevented Kalyn Ponga rising to his feet with Newcastle on the attack.

Isaako was sent to the sin bin and Newcastle wasted no time taking advantage as Mann kicked the ball across the field and Hymel Hunt showed good hands to pick the ball up and score.

The Knights were up 12-0 and seemingly in control. They threatened to extend their advantage when Brisbane were handed a lifeline by one of their former players. Andrew McCullough only joined Newcastle a matter of weeks ago but he seemingly slipped into old habits as he threw a pass that was swooped on by Xavier Coates.

The teenage winger ran the length of the field as Brisbane closed the gap to six points. There was still time for Pearce to ice a field goal with less than 10 seconds remaining in the half.

The Knights took a seven-point lead into halftime and there were early warning signs for the Broncos as the outstanding Daniel Saifiti, who ran for more than 200 metres, scored the softest of tries.

Issac Luke, Tevita Pangai and Joe Ofahengaue were on hand but Saifiti made folly of their attempts, rolling over to score.

The Broncos were in all sorts of trouble and their cause not helped by a cheap shot from Patrick Carrigan on Pearce that resulted in the Brisbane backrower being placed on report and sent to the sin bin.

Ponga kicked the penalty goal as the Knights went to a 21-6 lead. The game was as good as over at that point but Pearce put the exclamation point on the night and Newcastle bounced back in style from their loss to Melbourne.

“I thought it was really important when we came down here five days later and we rectified that,” Knights coach Adam O’Brien said.

“That is what good teams do. After a loss like that they find a way to win the next week. That was a good stepping stone to where we want to get to.”