Brisbane hunt elusive success without Reynolds

The Advertiser

18 hours ago

Brisbane have gone a staggering 456 days without a win without captain Adam Reynolds at the helm.
Not since Magic Round in May last year have the Broncos tasted victory without their talismanic playmaker.
On that occasion it was a field goal by back-up half Jock Madden that secured a 13-12 win over Manly.
They then proceeded to lose six consecutive matches without Reynolds, who had a ruptured biceps.
The 35-year-old is out of action again until at least the final round clash with Melbourne with a hamstring injury and has been replaced by 348-gamer Ben Hunt in the No.7 jersey.
Five-eighth Ezra Mam, also nursing a hamstring complaint, is not due back until at least the second week of the finals if the sixth-placed Broncos get that far.
He will be replaced at No.6 by versatile hooker Billy Walters against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
Hunt took the Broncos to the 2015 grand final playing halfback and has started in the halves in more than 250 NRL games. The 35-year-old is a more than capable replacement for Reynolds.
But the fact remains the Broncos are a more successful team with their skipper in the side.
Since Reynolds' arrival from South Sydney in 2022, they have won 59 per cent of games and 47 per cent without him.
Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs insisted the Michael Maguire-coached side could still get the job done without Reynolds and the electric Mam in the team.
"We have players who can slot straight in there. It's next man up," Staggs said.
"I still have confidence in our boys to do the job and go out there and make the finals.
"Benny Hunt has played almost 350 games and most of them have been in the halves.
"Madge (Maguire) signed Billy at the Wests Tigers as a five-eighth and we can use him as well. "To be honest, I like Billy in the halves. It gives him more running options and he is crafty. His old man (Kevin Walters) was pretty good there and Bill is a player who can step in there and do his job.
"I am looking forward to seeing what he can do and help that left edge."
While the absence of Reynolds and Mam is a blow, the Broncos are better placed than most clubs to adapt.
"Hunty and Billy can play the same role Ezra and Reynolds have been playing," Staggs said.
"I just think losing our two main halves, we don't need to change anything.
"We just need to stick to what we know best and that's our game plan at the Broncos. We don't need to play an individual sport and try and win a game on one play.
"The players that will slot in know what their role is."
Brisbane have gone a staggering 456 days without a win without captain Adam Reynolds at the helm.
Not since Magic Round in May last year have the Broncos tasted victory without their talismanic playmaker.
On that occasion it was a field goal by back-up half Jock Madden that secured a 13-12 win over Manly.
They then proceeded to lose six consecutive matches without Reynolds, who had a ruptured biceps.
The 35-year-old is out of action again until at least the final round clash with Melbourne with a hamstring injury and has been replaced by 348-gamer Ben Hunt in the No.7 jersey.
Five-eighth Ezra Mam, also nursing a hamstring complaint, is not due back until at least the second week of the finals if the sixth-placed Broncos get that far.
He will be replaced at No.6 by versatile hooker Billy Walters against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
Hunt took the Broncos to the 2015 grand final playing halfback and has started in the halves in more than 250 NRL games. The 35-year-old is a more than capable replacement for Reynolds.
But the fact remains the Broncos are a more successful team with their skipper in the side.
Since Reynolds' arrival from South Sydney in 2022, they have won 59 per cent of games and 47 per cent without him.
Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs insisted the Michael Maguire-coached side could still get the job done without Reynolds and the electric Mam in the team.
"We have players who can slot straight in there. It's next man up," Staggs said.
"I still have confidence in our boys to do the job and go out there and make the finals.
"Benny Hunt has played almost 350 games and most of them have been in the halves.
"Madge (Maguire) signed Billy at the Wests Tigers as a five-eighth and we can use him as well. "To be honest, I like Billy in the halves. It gives him more running options and he is crafty. His old man (Kevin Walters) was pretty good there and Bill is a player who can step in there and do his job.
"I am looking forward to seeing what he can do and help that left edge."
While the absence of Reynolds and Mam is a blow, the Broncos are better placed than most clubs to adapt.
"Hunty and Billy can play the same role Ezra and Reynolds have been playing," Staggs said.
"I just think losing our two main halves, we don't need to change anything.
"We just need to stick to what we know best and that's our game plan at the Broncos. We don't need to play an individual sport and try and win a game on one play.
"The players that will slot in know what their role is."
Brisbane have gone a staggering 456 days without a win without captain Adam Reynolds at the helm.
Not since Magic Round in May last year have the Broncos tasted victory without their talismanic playmaker.
On that occasion it was a field goal by back-up half Jock Madden that secured a 13-12 win over Manly.
They then proceeded to lose six consecutive matches without Reynolds, who had a ruptured biceps.
The 35-year-old is out of action again until at least the final round clash with Melbourne with a hamstring injury and has been replaced by 348-gamer Ben Hunt in the No.7 jersey.
Five-eighth Ezra Mam, also nursing a hamstring complaint, is not due back until at least the second week of the finals if the sixth-placed Broncos get that far.
He will be replaced at No.6 by versatile hooker Billy Walters against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
Hunt took the Broncos to the 2015 grand final playing halfback and has started in the halves in more than 250 NRL games. The 35-year-old is a more than capable replacement for Reynolds.
But the fact remains the Broncos are a more successful team with their skipper in the side.
Since Reynolds' arrival from South Sydney in 2022, they have won 59 per cent of games and 47 per cent without him.
Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs insisted the Michael Maguire-coached side could still get the job done without Reynolds and the electric Mam in the team.
"We have players who can slot straight in there. It's next man up," Staggs said.
"I still have confidence in our boys to do the job and go out there and make the finals.
"Benny Hunt has played almost 350 games and most of them have been in the halves.
"Madge (Maguire) signed Billy at the Wests Tigers as a five-eighth and we can use him as well. "To be honest, I like Billy in the halves. It gives him more running options and he is crafty. His old man (Kevin Walters) was pretty good there and Bill is a player who can step in there and do his job.
"I am looking forward to seeing what he can do and help that left edge."
While the absence of Reynolds and Mam is a blow, the Broncos are better placed than most clubs to adapt.
"Hunty and Billy can play the same role Ezra and Reynolds have been playing," Staggs said.
"I just think losing our two main halves, we don't need to change anything.
"We just need to stick to what we know best and that's our game plan at the Broncos. We don't need to play an individual sport and try and win a game on one play.
"The players that will slot in know what their role is."