The Brisbane Broncos and South Sydney Rabbitohs, two of the NRL’s most prominent teams, faced challenging seasons in 2024, marked by a series of setbacks. Both clubs boast elite fullbacks in Reece Walsh and Latrell Mitchell, yet their campaigns were plagued by significant injury problems, which played a major role in their disappointing performances.
According to NRL Physio, ‘Brien Seeney,’ the data on games missed due to injuries sheds light on just how much these setbacks impacted the teams. The Rabbitohs, leading the list, missed an astounding 213 games because of injuries. This was followed by the Warriors with 140 games missed and the Broncos with 138. These figures reflect the difficulties these teams encountered, contributing to their failure to make the finals in 2024.
In contrast, teams that secured spots in the top eight, such as the Bulldogs, Cowboys, and Storm, also faced injury issues, though less severe. The Bulldogs missed 134 games, the Cowboys 129, and the Storm 119. Despite these challenges, Melbourne managed to finish as minor premiers, demonstrating their exceptional resilience. On the other hand, teams with fewer injury woes, like the Panthers, Knights, and Sharks, fared better. The Panthers experienced only 69 missed games, and both the Knights and Sharks had 69 and 80 games missed, respectively.
South Sydney’s disappointing season, which saw them finish second-last, was largely influenced by their injury crisis. The Rabbitohs’ highest-paid player, Latrell Mitchell, struggled throughout the year. After a three-game suspension early in the season, Mitchell was further hampered by a foot injury, which kept him out of action from Round 18 onwards. His absence was particularly detrimental, as it came at a crucial time when the Rabbitohs were still in contention for a finals spot. Despite a strong performance in their final game with a 32-16 win over the Eels, the Rabbitohs faltered without Mitchell, losing eight of their last nine matches.
The Brisbane Broncos, on the other hand, experienced a dramatic decline, falling from grand finalists in 2023 to 12th place in the 2024 season. Their key fullback, Reece Walsh, was also plagued by injuries. Walsh, who had a stellar 2023, managed only 14 games in 2024. His season was marred by a facial fracture in Round 3 against Penrith, a significant concussion in the opening State of Origin game, and a knee issue. The final blow came when he fractured his hand just before the crucial end-of-season matches. The Broncos’ playoff hopes were severely affected, particularly after Walsh’s injury in Round 23, which left them struggling to stay in contention. Additionally, the team was further weakened by captain Adam Reynolds’ two-month absence due to a bicep injury and front-rower Payne Haas’ missed games.
Despite the challenging season, Broncos coach Kevin Walters remains optimistic about the team’s future. Walters believes that the core talent within the squad is sufficient to turn things around without the need for major changes. After their final match against the Storm, Walters expressed confidence in his team’s potential. He remarked, “I honestly believe that the talent is inside the building. We’ve just got to get that talent all working together in the right direction. We’ve done it before and we’ll do it again.”
