'They don't appear to be trying': Brohman slams Broncos efforts after capitulation
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Dear oh dear the Broncos, hammered by the Titans 46 points to 18 and Kevin Walters in the post-match press conference was asked, well he was peppered with questions by the journos about their chances of making the top eight etc. This is what he had to say. Well I think the eight's the furthest thing from my mind at the moment. You know, we've got more issues than making the eight. Not issues but you know, that's disappointing there today. Particularly the second 40. What do you think's actually caused this Kevin? Oh, I've

Again, it's too close after the game to say anything too much, but we'll have a look at it with the other coaches. It just wasn't good enough today in the second half. Kevin Walters speaking after that game. Darrell, you obviously saw bits and pieces of it. Can you get a read on what the issue is? Well, it's hard to say. To me, they don't appear to be trying. I hate to say that, but they're not putting their heart and soul into it. It's not as if it means anything to them.

I think they're at the stage now, and they can't make the semis. You can't turn a side around as quickly as they need to be turned around now, and I think they're too far off the pace, too. I don't know. Were they on 20 points or 22? I'm not even sure what they're on. Excuse me. But you could see a distinct difference in Cavi then when he was interviewed during the week where he arced up during the week. He arced up at a number of things.

This time, when asked the questions, he sort of was more restrained. He thought about it, didn't want to say too much. You could see he was hurting inside. You know, I don't know what they do because even their good players aren't playing particularly well. When he arced up during the week, he got jumbled. He was, you know, journos were asking him questions and he was kind of accusing them of being outsiders and you're not an insider. And, you know, that...

That kind of garbage, you know what I mean? When you are the Broncos, you're going to be asked questions if you're going like bastards. And last year, you were going like superstars. They were a great team last year. They and Penrith didn't just make the grand final. They flogged teams three and four. Both of them flogged them in the two finals to make it and in the earlier rounds.

And it's just gone haywire from the start of the season. Nothing was ever right. I think Herbie Farmworth and Flegler not being there has hurt them. Rhys Walsh is being marked out of the game. There's all sorts of problems there. They've got a high-profile player who's not playing at the moment. No one can really say why.

You know, it's a mess. And you're the perfect person to ask this, Bernie, because of the people on this panel, you're the most recent in Brisbane. I mean, you were hosting a breakfast show and then a dry program on 4BC. So you know what Brisbane listeners and what Brisbane supporters expect from their Broncos. And at the moment, it's just not good enough. The Broncos...

They're the number one team. The Dolphins have got great support, don't get me wrong. But the Broncos are the team that's been there since the competition expanded in 1988, and there's a lot expected of the Broncos. And the public can tell when there's something not right. And, look, the Broncos will say, if you start saying things like there's going to be a massive review there, there's always going to be a review, there is going to be a serious review. Like, the club's owned by Lachlan Murdoch. The coach is in trouble. He's got to be in trouble.

Well, there's going to be... I love Kevin. There has to be questions asked about... Because it's three or four seasons they haven't made the final. Then the one season, they played to all the potential. And they were a magnificent football side last year. They weren't just good. They were unbelievable. Like, look, let's go through the players. Ezra Mamm this season. He's done nothing. Ezra Mamm, he's gone from a Clive Churchill medal for 65 minutes in a grand final. He's done... Selwyn Cobbo, there's something going on there.

Is there deeper issues there? Like, aren't they losing all their coaching staff around Kevvy? A lot of them are going. They're all gone. Can't write time. Lee Brees is gone. I think, was there talk, Matty Ballin as well may be going to join Des?

Like, they're all leaving. There's something very odd. Look, and past player power was what installed Kevvy into the job. You know, like Chris Johns. Even they're turning on him too. Yeah, well, Chris Johns and Lazo and those guys in Brisbane, they're quite sort of powerful and outspoken behind the scenes. And they're quite full on. And, you know, they really got their wishes with regards to Kevvy.

Kevvy was the right man for the job. Let's make no mistake. And he proved that by getting them to the grand final. And everyone was wondering whether, oh, can you put that behind you and can you move on into the new year? You never put it behind you. I'll tell you a stupid story. When I was 19 playing reserve grade rugby union at East, we won 20 in a row and went into the finals breaking the record for the most points scored in the reserve grade rugby union competition. And we lost two games in a row.

It was 1988, 36 years ago, and I'm still shitty about it. You know what I mean? And that's not the NRL, you know, where they'd won the grand final. Yeah, it was theirs. It was over. You know what I mean? Yeah. I don't know what they do because they're just not playing well. And I don't think any of them can put their hand up and say they're playing well. You know, even though Payne Hart's only played a little bit of the game, he's playing okay.

But Patrick Carrigan, who tries his butt off week in, week out, he's not playing great. But he's just become a trier. And that's not critical of him. No one else around him. And Adam Reynolds. I love Adam Reynolds, but he's getting injured all the time. He can't get through a game without an injury, without a limp or some attention to his legs. And you can play into your mid-30s, but you have to be injury-free, like Ben Hunt is, like Daly Cherry Evans is.

You're no good to anyone if you keep getting injured. All right. Well, I have a feeling it's probably going to be the story that dominates this week, you would think. The Brisbane Broncos and some more tough questions for the players and also the coach.