A Mam masterclass, but same old Broncos: Four things learnt in horror defeat

The Age

18-05-2025

Even an Ezra Mam masterclass could not spare the Brisbane Broncos. Some of the errors on show on Sunday have become all too familiar – so much talent, yet so many issues that appear fixable.
It was at this point last year, on the eve of the first Origin squad selections, when the Broncos' season went up in flames. This latest 30-26 defeat to the St George-Illawarra Dragons, and the manner in which they succumbed, will have alarm bells ringing.
From the error count (13) to allowing a floored Kyle Flanagan to get to his feet and spread it wide for the match-winning try, the lack of urgency at times proved costly for a team about to endure their traditionally daunting State of Origin period.
Even when Jacob Liddle scooped up the ball near his own line, Mam was the only genuine chaser, with his teammates giving up the pursuit.
For the 10 minutes that Jaydn Su'A spent in the sin bin, Brisbane hardly attacked the corridor he had vacated. Instead, their own errors led to Clint Gutherson and Liddle scoring.
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This is a team who wiped the Sydney Roosters and ladder-leading Bulldogs off the park, yet they enter Origin with a 5-6 win-loss record.
Their support play has been lacking, ranked 14th in the league, and their completion rates of under 80 per cent are simply putting them under too much pressure; pressure they have been unable to respond to.
This is true even in another week in which their culture has been called into question following Martin Taupau's departure from the club after liking a social media post condemning Maguire's training philosophies.