NRL 2024: Queensland rivals standing in the way of Brisbane Broncos’ finals hopes
Despite bouncing back to form against the Knights, the Broncos face an uphill battle to play finals footy, with their fellow Queenslanders standing in their way. The harsh reality is that their finals hopes ultimately rely on one man.
Kevin Walters said it himself, the Broncos are not through the other side of the fence.
To get through it they’re going to have to go through Queensland.
A big win over Newcastle was cathartic, but it’s not going to solve everything just yet. Not from 11th on the ladder.
By all means, enjoy the win, bask in the hope of it all. Lord knows the state needs it right now.
With the finals on the horizon and pressure mounting, Brisbane have six games left to kick the fence down and they need to win at least five of them.
And there’s no way around it, they have to magically transform into the best team in Queensland over the next seven weeks despite stinking it up for the past 65 days.
They play the Titans on the Gold Coast in round 22, who have turned a corner at the back end of the season under Des Hasler’s guidance.
They then head up to Townsville to face the Cowboys in a big fortnight of travel in round 23 before a bye and then Suncorp Stadium joint tenants the Dolphins in round 26.
The Broncos haven’t been beaten by the Dolphins yet, and it’s a record they want to count on.
But to make it harder, both the Dolphins and Cowboys have been in better form than the Broncos this season and will be gunning to make the top 8 – both have a better chance of it too.
Scattered around their state rivals is the three games at home. The Bulldogs next week, the Eels in round 25 and then the biggest test of all, Melbourne in the final round.
If they falter at all leading into round 27, they risk a must-win game against the Storm.
There’s every chance Craig Bellamy rests all his guns before finals if the minor premiership is wrapped up, but better to be safe than sorry.
It won’t be an all Queensland finals series, but for the Broncos to miss out would be an almighty fumble after the magic of last season.
A log jam on the ladder makes it next to impossible.
The Cowboys have a tough draw against Bulldogs, Sharks and Storm among others on the run home, while the Dolphins have the Roosters, Bulldogs and Melbourne and no byes.
Enter Adam Reynolds.
There’s no way the Broncos should be relying so heavily on one player to drag them across the finish line, but that’s reality at the moment.
The champion halfback had eight try assists in four games before suffering a biceps injury in round 9, and although he didn’t add to the total in a 30-14 win against Newcastle, his presence helped unlock Reece Walsh.
That chemistry is sacred from now on.
If they can keep it simmering the casualties will be close to home.
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