Defeat by Warriors in NRL Round 8 puts more pressure on Broncos coach Anthony Seibold

The Broncos have suffered a six successive defeat — this time 26-16 to the Warriors — and it reduced some players to tears.

Isaiah Papali'i of the Warriors scores a try during the round-8 match between the New Zealand Warriors and the Brisbane Broncos at Central Coast Stadium on Saturday. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Brisbane chief executive Paul White will front the media on Sunday morning after the Broncos suffered a six successive defeat that reduced some of their players to tears and heaped more pressure on embattled coach Anthony Seibold.

It is understood Seibold remains safe despite another devastating loss, this time at the hands of the New Zealand Warriors.

Broncos coach Anthony Seibold speaks to media after the defeat by the Warriors. Picture: Getty Images

White is expected to instead discuss the emotional scenes at the end of the game on Saturday when halfback Brodie Croft and captain Alex Glenn had to be comforted by teammates and opposition alike as another loss rubbed salt into the Broncos’ gaping wounds.

If Seibold is to remain at the helm of the club – he has at least three years remaining on his deal – he has some big decisions to make.

He has remained loyal to the likes of Croft, Anthony Milford and Darius Boyd throughout the club’s recent struggles, but his loyalty has not been repaid and the time may have come to wield the axe.

Anthony Milford of the Broncos during the match on Saturday won by the Warriors. Picture: Getty Images

Should Canterbury win on Sunday, the Broncos will drop into a share of last. Even if the Bulldogs lose, it will do little to ease the disappointment of another defeat as the Broncos threw away a 10-0 lead to lose 26-16 in the NRL's round 8 at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford on Saturday.

They have now lost in successive weeks to the Gold Coast Titans and the Warriors – two sides who have hardly set the world on fire this year.

The Warriors lost playmaker Kodi Nikorima in the opening minutes but they were too good when the whips were cracking.

The Broncos board have been unequivocal in their support for Seibold in recent weeks, but something has to give as the game’s most powerful club endures one of the most tumultuous and barren times in their history.

The Broncos’ Brodie Croft appears to shed a tear.

Former players have been scathing in their criticism of the club and the Broncos are facing another week of withering analysis after a chaotic performance against the Warriors.

It may be that some senior players become the casualty of the Broncos’ woeful form. Seibold admitted he was searching for an answer to the club’s woes – they have not won since the NRL returned from the break brought on by COVID-19.

“I’m not sure why we are fading out of games, but we are,” Seibold lamented.

“We are learning some tough lessons at the moment. I’m really disappointed. I’m sad for the group and disappointed, it’s a real tough time for us at the moment.

“I would love to find out [some answers]. I thought we did a really good job in the first half, but in the second half we just couldn’t get the job done.”

The Broncos look dejected during the game. Picture: Getty Images

Asked about Glenn and Croft breaking down at full-time – the former had to be consoled by Warriors veteran Adam Blair – Seibold said: “It makes me sad. How Alex and Brodie are is how we are all feeling, including myself. It’s disappointing to see the results when I know what we have in the change rooms.

“I’m quite emotive. I’m really upset and disappointed, we fly back to Queensland and the only thing we can do is review the game and try and get better.”

Glenn fronted the media after the game.

“It hurts,” he said.

“I got overwhelmed out there, sometimes we cry and get upset. I know the effort we put into training every week. We are lacking discipline, I just care for this club and the team so much and the emotions came out.

“I won’t shy away from it. Sometimes you shed tears. Being here for 12 years, this is one of the toughest periods I’ve been through.

“I’d rather be the captain now testing myself because once we turn this around, it will be a hell of a story.”

The Broncos have become beset by rumours, be it about Seibold’s relationship with the players, or the players relationships with each other.

Only hours before their latest defeat, the club’s inaugural captain Wally Lewis suggested on Nine radio that the playing group was split over the size of some of their teammates’ pay packets.

The likes of Milford and Jack Bird are on up to $1 million apiece, yet the former has struggled and the latter has barely played after suffering successive knee reconstructions.

The club is also struggling to tie down boom back rower David Fifita, who is off contract at the end of the season and in the sights of rival clubs.

“The spirit between the players suggesting that a number of them aren’t really happy with the payments being given to some of the players, and they’re not really performing all that well,” Lewis told The Continuous Call Team.

“Anthony Milford’s copped an absolute hammering from the general public and the media alike. He’s a million-dollar man and they’re just saying he’s not getting too much out of it.

“The one issue that they can’t deny is there just seems to be a pretty bad mood in the club. That’s a real indication that something needs to be changed.”