Just under a year ago, the Brisbane Broncos had hit rock bottom. Kevin Walters admitted it at the time. Red Hill was divided and “everyone” was “on the firing line.”
“Everything we do has to be first class and professional, this hasn’t happened in the last three or four years,” Walters said after the Broncos fell to a 46-0 loss to the Rabbitohs.
“If we don’t change things, they will stay the same.”
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Kevin Walters and the Broncos hit bottom last year. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris / Getty Images) Source: Getty Images
The changes were dramatic and widespread, with 10 players leaving at the end of last season, while Matt Lodge and Tevita Pangai Junior were sidelined mid-season.
Seven new names arrived, led by first-place midfielder Adam Reynolds, the new face of a new era at one of the proudest clubs in the league.
But Reynolds could only do so much.
At least that’s what we were told, that he wouldn’t be able to document the defensive lapses that left Brisbane in the shadow of his old glory days.
In an interview with Triple M last year, Walters admitted that the club had been trying to “change the mindset” of the player group
“It’s been declining for the last three or four years,” he said.
“We’ve hit rock bottom and it’s up to me and the rest of the staff and the players to change that. With that comes strong and firm decisions about culture and what happens here in training and in the field. “
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We quickly made it to Thursday night’s game at the Hunter, and while Brisbane had made such a promising start to the 2022 season, this new “mentality” was about to face its biggest test.
With Reynolds a late scratch, the new-looking Broncos were expected to sink, return to their old ways.
Newcastle had 21 tackles in the Brisbane red zone in the first half and yet only had one attempt to prove it.
And when the Knights tied again two points behind the Broncos in the second half, they responded to the challenge once again and escaped the winners by 36-12.
Reynolds may have made his presence felt on the pitch, but in reality, Brisbane’s performance without him was the best proof of how much he has changed at Red Hill.
It starts by turning what was once the club’s greatest weakness into a strength.
HOW RED HILL MAKES IT AN ATTRACTIVE DESTINATION
Just over a year ago, the Broncos were humiliated 46-6 by the Eels the same weekend David Fifita, Sam Walker and Reece Walsh did starring performances for rival clubs.
“They would keep players for minors. This is a different Broncos than it was five or ten years ago,” said Laurie Daley. The Great Sports Breakfast at the time.
“They have lost that lust.”
Walters, however, without being intimidated by the constant criticism, went to the Brisbane roster to make uncovered calls which he believed would be in the best interest of the club.
Even if those outside the Broncos hierarchy couldn’t see it at the time.
Reece Walsh used to be a Bronco.Source: supplied
Both Pangai Junior and Lodge were still producing in the field, although discipline and indiscretions off the field were a concern, as well as pressure from wage limits and therefore Brisbane powerbrokers let them go.
The Broncos had to pay more than $ 1 million for both of them to play for rival clubs, but they were confident that it would make them stronger in the long run.
They seem to be right.
But they weren’t the only high-profile Broncos to leave the club in recent years, with Anthony Milford and David Fifita also dropping out.
Again, these were decisions that dominated the headlines and they only saw how the club was under more pressure to ensure that the sacrifice would be worthwhile.
The first signs were late last year, with Tyson Gamble and Kotoni Staggs among a series of Broncos to re-sign the club despite rival interest.
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Kurt Capewell has been a smart buy. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris / Getty Images) Source: Getty Images
Now, with Reynolds and Capewell leading a new era in the Broncos and low-priced recruits like Corey Jensen filling the gap ahead, Brisbane is beginning to reap the rewards.
And not only that, now players are reducing their paychecks to stay on the Red Hill. Herbie Farnworth reduced the Dolphins’ interest in re-signing a one-year extension.
Selwyn Cobbo, meanwhile, is caught in the middle of a 15-team bidding war, but is said to be willing to sacrifice $ 200,000 a season if that means staying in Brisbane.
The Broncos simply could not compete with what Xavier Coates had to offer in Melbourne, but now, successfully on the field, Brisbane has a new card to play at the negotiating table.
Brisbane Broncos teen sensation Selwyn Cobbo is poised to reject rival clubs. Image NRL photosSource: supplied
THE “SURPRISE” OF BIG REYNOLDS AND THE KEYVIE KEY MEETING
The opportunity to play with Reynolds is another of Brisbane’s main cards when it comes to hiring and retention.
As much as Brisbane has benefited from Reynolds ’calming influence, there’s another aspect of his game that has taken it to another level this year.
“The surprise is what Reynolds has been able to offer along the test line,” Panthers legend Gorden Tallis said. Triple M.
“In South Sydney, he was always that guy at the bottom of the sets that took them where they needed to go and Cody Walker, [Damien] Cook and Latrell [Mitchell] they were doing the test assists.
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“So coming here, it was like doing it for the Broncos, who will turn those opportunities into him because that hasn’t always been their game.”
The options were also limited. Te Maire Martin, Tyson Gamble and Billy Walters are solid first graders, but they continue to develop and look for consistency in their game.
It may come as a surprise to see the Broncos once again compete for a place in the top four, but that could only be the beginning given the improvements Brisbane can still make to his spine.
“He’s not doing it on his own, but look at Melbourne’s backbone and how much money they’ve invested in that backbone and how good they are.” The Australian Brent Read continued Triple M.
“You wouldn’t look at that column and say it’s close to that level, but Adam is so good right now, he makes up for it a lot.”
And Reynolds is not only producing that calm kick in the corner or the main voice in the field, but he’s also creating outstanding coil chip shots and flashes of brilliance.
Reynolds has been one of the purchases of the year. NRL PHOTOSFont: The Daily Telegraph
“He’s the reference man now,” Girdler said.
“Behind a fast-paced ball game in attacking positions, he used to take a step back … now he is advancing and is turning these opportunities with passes, kicks and tokens for himself. “The surprise for me is what Adam Reynolds has brought to this element of his game, he’s gone to a different level.”
Even with Reynolds away from home against Newcastle, Brisbane still kept his nerve to come out late for a 30-12 victory.
The 31-year-old may not have played, but that result showed the impact he had on the playgroup, building that culture of professionalism that Walters said he had been missing for so long.
It all started in the training paddock, with Patrick Carrigan revealing in an earlier column foxsports.com.au that Reynolds had made a “big difference” only in the preseason.
“Gordie Tallis said this week that our training goes to another level when Reyno is in the park, and it’s true,” he wrote at the time.
Adam Reynolds has had an impact on Broncos training. Image: Liam Kidston Source: News Corp Australia
“I do not mean that he has an aura, but his presence has certainly been felt since he arrived in the preseason three weeks earlier.
“In the past we’ve been breaking our backs and waiting for results, but now Reyno really challenges us to think more exactly about what we’re doing and why.”
And he’s also showing up on the field, with Premier League-winning migback Cooper Cronk pointing to this cultural shift as the key to Brisbane’s turn.
“They’re playing with resilience,” he said Fox League ‘NRL Tonight’.
“They are playing with such toughness that we haven’t seen in a long time. While the icing on the cake has been the moments of Reynolds, Cobbo and Kotoni Staggs, the essence of why they have won has been based on toughness, toughness and defense. “
That strength and toughness also goes back to the coach, according to Broncos great Gorden Tallis.
“Kevvie was a tough, tough little insect and will now be out in Brisbane,” he told Fox League “NRL 360”.
“I don’t think we’ve defended anything in the past and now we’re defending something and you can see a little bit of Kevvie and that DNA coming back to the club.”
Nor is it a coincidence, with a meeting between Walters and Broncos powerbrokers at the start of the season that helped find a “clear” style of play and identity.
Kevin Walters sat down with the Broncos powerbrokers. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris / Getty Images) Source: Getty Images
“The big change for the Broncos is that they left and sat down over the summer and said well what our team is like,” Paul Kent told NRL 360 earlier this month.
“Kevvie when you’ve finished training this side, what does it look like, what does a Kevin Walters do …