'Two different teams': Second-half collapse sums up Broncos' season

Brisbane assistant coach Peter Gentle wants to bottle a solid first-half showing against the Raiders but said a week of controversy ultimately came back to haunt the Broncos in their 36-8 loss to Canberra.

The standing down of Tevita Pangai jnr and reports several other players allegedly breached COVID-19 protocols earlier this month stole the focus for much of the week leading into the game. 

Filling in for Anthony Seibold, who remains in 14-day quarantine in Brisbane, Gentle fronted the media to dissect the side's second-half capitulation where they conceded five tries in 20 minutes after leading 8-6.

A suspected broken hand to Jake Turpin also compounded the loss, while Kotoni Staggs and Payne Haas were placed on report for separate incidents to cap off another dark week for the club.

"Our preparation wasn't ideal this week but we prepared best we could," Gentle said.

"Losing Jake Turpin we got a bit loose around the middle and if we make an error we've got to learn how to defend it.

"That's NRL standard and at the moment, for one reason or another, we let it get to us and weren't defending like the first half.

"We were doing everything right but as soon as a little bit of adversity comes against us we fall apart and become every man for himself.

"It just seemed like one-way traffic. It's been happening all year."

The Broncos flew home to Brisbane on Saturday night with the focus now turning to whether they win another game this season and avoid an embarrassing wooden spoon finish.

Languishing in 15th spot on the Telstra Premiership ladder and on track for their worst season in club history, the Broncos are ahead of Canterbury by two competition points but have a far worse points differential.

"It's less than ideal what we're going through but we have to break some bad habits," Gentle said.

"You tend to come out in the second half and not wait to get beat. We had to come and put a performance in and for 40 minutes we did.

"We've spoken about bottling that first half – we've got a six-day turnaround into St George and have to reproduce that first half."

The Broncos could be boosted by the return of skipper Alex Glenn next week but otherwise remain light on for troops returning.