'Cry me a river': Excuse from Broncos fans slammed amid Reece Walsh and Haas truth
Cobbo then injured his hamstring later in the 22-2 loss to the Melbourne Storm. Cobbo and Mam are expected to miss the remainder of the season, while Reynolds is a hope of returning if the Broncos make finals footy.
Many Brisbane fans admitted their season could have gone up in smokes in the one play having watched both their halves limp off the field. Although Queensland representative Ben Hunt will likely slot into the halves to replace one of them, while his partner is up in the air.
Regardless, not everyone is sympathetic for Broncos fans. NRL reporter Riccio hit back at the excuses he has heard since last Thursday. Riccio claimed he doesn't buy into the ominous chat surrounding the club suggesting many teams are dealing with injuries in 2025 and the squad still holds players such as Reece Walsh and Payne Haas in the starting XIII.
"Cry me a river. Are we seriously going to sit here, and Broncos fans are going to go now rip up there grand final tickets, on the basis of what has happened with these three injuries," Riccio said on Triple M's NRL Daily. "There are clubs that have gone through so much worse, this season, and been able to respond.
"Not only that, they still maintain a roster that includes Reece Walsh, Pat Carrigan, Kotoni Staggs, Ben Hunt, Payne Haas...they can help you win a comp. Here we are, the Broncos, are going to play the whole poor me card...you still have a star-studded roster, go and win the comp and show us what you are made of."
Former NRL star James Graham said the Broncos had already missed their chance of a top four finish after some poor performances earlier in the season. "The reason they are not going to play top four is because of other results at the start of the season. It's not because they lost three players in Melbourne," he said.
Despite the injuries last week, coach Michael Maguire didn't offer an excuse having claimed the team can cover the injuries. 'We'll be right,' he said. 'I mean, we've got people in the background that can come in. That's part of the progression. We've been able to bring a few people in and change around a little bit, so we'll work through that throughout the week.'
Winning the premiership having finished outside the top four in finals footy has proven to be a rare feat in the NRL. Although the Broncos face a fight just to remain in the top eight. Brisbane face a huge game this weekend against the Dolphins on Saturday night and both teams will view it as a must win game.
The Dolphins suffered a shock 64-12 hammering at the hands of the Roosters last weekend and will be looking to bounce back at Suncorp Stadium. And coach Maguire is expected to make a surprise announcement in his halves for the Saturday night game.
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Kevin Walters calls for his son to play in the halves
Against Melbourne, Staggs switched from centre to five-eighth after Reynolds and Mam went down, and Maguire has the option of keeping him there for their crunch clash with the Dolphins. Although calls are growing for Billy Walters to shift from No.9 to five-eighth for the vital clash.
According to former Broncos Kevin Walters, Maguire is better served playing Staggs in the centres. And the former coach reckons it might be son Billy at No.6 with Hunt at halfback.
'I feel like Kotoni is better in the centres,' Walters said on Fox League. 'The Broncos need someone who is more of a genuine six. Kotoni did a good job the other night but his asset is his running and power game and that's best served in the centres. Billy is an option for them at six.' League legend Wally Lewis agreed and claimed Walters' expected move to the halves is another chance for the Broncos star to silence his critics and believes he will thrive in the jersey his famous father once played in for the Broncos.
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