The NRL great has questioned the Broncos’ title hopes after yet another shock defeat
NRL great Greg Alexander has called out the Brisbane Broncos and questioned if they have enough in them to win the NRL title after a shock defeat to the Parramatta Eels on Friday night. The Broncos headed into the clash against the Eels as heavy favourites after steadying their top eight hopes with five straight wins.
However, Michael Maguire was left deflated after the 22-20 defeat at home to Parramatta with the Broncos once again folding when the pressure was piled on them. Reece Walsh had a rocks and diamonds game with errors mixed in with flashes of brilliance.
Although Broncos great Corey Parker defended Walsh and claimed veterans Adam Reynolds and hooker Ben Hunt didn’t stand up on Friday night. While Payne Haas appeared to finish the game struggling with a reoccurring back injury.
The Broncos slipped to sixth on the ladder, but are only two points ahead of the Manly Sea Eagles in ninth. Maguire’s men have been accused of lacking grunt in 2025 and they were once again called out after their latest display.
And NRL commentator Andrew Voss claimed the team lacks the resilience to finish in the top four. “I have not hopped on the Brisbane Broncos bus at all this year,” Voss said on Monday morning on SEN Radio. “I still think they are absolutely capable of torching sides between now and at the end of the season.
“However, it’s not consistent and I don’t see any resilience. I do not see the top four toughness. I see them as pretenders.”
And Penrith legend Alexander claimed the team are prone to errors and capitulations once the game gets tough. He also questioned if their five-game winning streak was inflated because they beat the Titans twice. “They are fair weather,” Alexander said.
On their day, they can beat anyone. They were looking to make it their sixth win in a row and the Gold Coast Titans were two of those wins. The Eels exposed the frailty of this Brisbane side. They don’t like it when sides get down and dirty. They don’t like sides who play boring and relentless footy and that’s what Mitch Moses did (for Parramatta).
The Broncos couldn’t handle it and once the scores got close, the errors and inability to get down into the grind exposed Brisbane. I’m with you (Voss). They are a fair weather team who (only likes) to play in front.”
The Broncos are contending with a surging Penrith Panthers side who have moved from last on the ladder to fifth. The Panthers now sit one point ahead of the Broncos with Nathan Cleary leading his side to a 36-2 win over the Wests Tigers on the weekend to mark their seventh straight victory. The Broncos still have to play the Storm twice before the end of the season.
Corey Parker defends Reece Walsh after loss
Walsh came under scrutiny for his game, despite coming close to winning it for his side at the end only to be called offside. Walsh tried his heart out, but came up with a number of errors. Although former Broncos forward Parker was more critical of the veterans in the team who failed to outperform their counterparts.
There are moments in any sport when you need leadership,” the Broncos legend said on SEN radio on Monday. “There comes a time when your most experienced players and your leaders have to stand up and make some bold calls, and they have to stay on task.
“The Broncos have got Adam Reynolds at 35 years of age and over 300 games of experience. He’s the No.7. He’s what you would think is the leader of the football side. He’s the captain, and he plays a real pivotal position.
“Then you’ve got Ben Hunt at No.9 with just shy of 350 games. So between those two individuals you’ve got a collective 651 games between them. We hear so often when the Broncos win or don’t win, it’s either Reece Walsh has had an ordinary game or Reece Walsh has had a great game. [But] experience in big games and pivotal moments is paramount.”
