They were minutes away from a premiership last year, but the Broncos are on the brink of missing the finals altogether this season after nemesis Penrith condemned Kevin Walters’ side to a fifth straight loss on Friday night.
Potentially needing to win six of their last eight games just to make the play-offs, an improved effort will be little consolation to Brisbane supporters after the Panthers clawed their way to a 14-6 win at Suncorp Stadium.
A moment of Reece Walsh magic lit up the venue for the State of Origin decider, but Ivan Cleary’s side continued their stranglehold over their title rivals, overcoming a half-time deficit to down Brisbane in wet conditions.
Walters will be forced to look outside his top 30 to field a team next week against the Dragons given a host of players will be on State of Origin duty and back-up halfback Jock Madden limped from the field with a serious hamstring injury. Adam Reynolds is not due back for weeks from a biceps problem.
It would seem unthinkable at the start of the year, but will the Broncos be top eight casualties? They remain two points outside a logjam of teams from fifth through to eight, all of whom are yet to play this round.
“We’re nowhere near the [chocolates] at the moment,” Walters said.
A dejected Payne Haas after Brisbane’s fifth straight loss.Credit: Getty Images
“[But] if anyone would want to come down to training one day and have a look at training, it’s a high standard. Eventually, in my experience in rugby league, if you keep training well, turning up each week and putting in the effort we did tonight, it will turn.
“I’ve been at clubs as a player and as an assistant coach, where we’ve lost five games in a row. It’s sticking together, working hard and training. Once we get the crew back together, we’ll set sail for a strong finish to the season.”
Walsh scored a stunning solo try in the opening half – his first since the sickening State of Origin knockout in game one – but Brisbane looked impotent at times as the Panthers’ near flawless defence swallowed up attack after attack.
Walsh’s effort gifted the Broncos a 6-4 half-time lead after Jack Cole opened the scoring for Panthers seconds after running onto the field to replace the injured Daine Laurie (hamstring).
James Fisher-Harris takes on the Brisbane defence.Credit: Getty Images
But the Panthers ground their way to the win with a miraculous try in the second half, Liam Martin catching Jarome Luai’s midfield bomb uncontested, then dumping the ball to prop Lindsay Smith, who kicked expertly for Brian To’o to score.
Mitch Kenny’s dummy-half effort 12 minutes from time secured the victory, which lifted the Panthers into second, two points behind the table-topping Storm. Melbourne clash with the Tigers at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday night.
Two-time Clive Churchill Medal winner Nathan Cleary is expected to return after the Panthers’ bye when they take on the Dolphins.
“I felt like the boys really wanted to win tonight,” Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said. “However it was going to work out, we were going to find a way to do it. That gives a lot of heart for the future. [But] there’s so much footy still to play.”