Broncos coach Kevin Walters has taken a swipe at a journalist in a post-match press conference as his team’s season hangs in the balance after being belted 40-6 by the Dolphins in Saturday night’s Battle of Brisbane.
Despite his side’s lacklustre display before a packed Suncorp Stadium, Walters said the club “can still make the finals”.
For that to happen the Dolphins and Dragons must lose to the Knights and Raiders respectively in next week’s final round, while Walters’ men have to beat the Storm who are expected to name a full-strength side for the clash after resting several players this week.
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Brisbane’s most recent loss could provide the bookend to a forgettable 2024 that was filled with so much hope after almost winning last year’s grand final before a Nathan Cleary masterclass got Penrith home in the dying minutes.
Should Brisbane fall short of a top eight finish this season it will mark the third time in Walters’ four-year tenure the club has failed to feature in the finals.
“It’s just not part of who we are as a club or a team,” Walters said of the loss.
“I can’t (explain it right now) but I’ll get to the bottom of it.
“There’s pressure every week playing at the Broncos and that’s what people and players have got to understand you know?
“Every week is a challenge for the Broncos. Every week is a challenge and when our players understand and realise that we’ll be a better club.
“We just haven’t got consistency there.”
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The Broncos looked disorganised and were totally out enthused by a red-hot Dolphins side hellbent on keeping their season alive, with Wayne Bennett’s men set to finish Round 26 inside the top eight.
And when a journalist pointed out to Walters that Saturday night’s loss was just the latest in a string of recent shellackings including their Round 21, 41-16 trouncing to the Bulldogs, the coach hit back.
“I wouldn’t say that (that we’ve had a number of disappointing losses),” Walters said.
“It wasn’t great (against the Bulldogs) but what do you think? You seem to know a lot about everything.
“It has (happened more than once) but as I said it’s not great.”
Pressed on if he’d be making changes ahead of their must win match against Melbourne, Walters said the issues went deeper than personnel.
“We will look at that at the end of the year like every club does but I don’t think that’s the problem, no,” he said.
“I think we have got to learn as a club that this is a big club and you have got to play every week and come ready to play every week.
“I am disappointed like everyone is but again we will get through the season and have a look.
“I’ve got some really strong thoughts of what I think but I am not going to share them today with anyone.
“That’s for myself and the players and staff at the Broncos.”
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And while still a mathematical chance to make the finals, Walters said he had to dissect Saturday’s smashing before looking too far ahead.
“I am not even thinking about that (the finals) mate. We need to get through this performance and get set again,” he said.
“You know what I’m like as a person and as a character and we will never give up that’s for sure but that (finals) is not in my sights just at the moment.
“It (the mountain) is higher but we still haven’t finished yet.
“We’ve still got a game to go. We could make the finals.”
Source Agencies
