Broncos leader Payne Haas has declared “there’s no more excuses” as the premiers look to save their season by ending an eight-game losing streak on Thursday night.
It’s been 12 long weeks since the Broncos were on the right side of the scoreline – a Round 8 win over the Bulldogs on Anzac Day eve.
The 32-12 victory was the Broncos’ fifth of the season and had them sitting comfortably in seventh place on the ladder heading into a big month of games against the Roosters, Sea Eagles and Warriors.
Few could have predicted the Broncos would lose all three of those matches by a combined score of 112-40.
Sandwiched between byes in Round 12 and Round 16 were losses to the Dragons, Titans and Rabbitohs, before the recent defeats to the Roosters and Sharks left them in 14th position.
Haas, who last played for the Broncos in Round 17 where he captained the side to a competitive defeat at the hands of the Roosters, is one of a number of high-profile returns alongside Adam Reynolds, Pat Carrigan and Ezra Mam.
The Samoa and NSW Blues representative knows his team’s revival must start against the Panthers – the team they knocked out of last year’s title race in an epic preliminary final in Brisbane.
“There's no more excuses,” Haas said.
“I think first and foremost, we've got a lot of people back and we haven't really played together as much this year.
“There's expectation on us to do our job and especially with everyone back with Walshy, Patty, all those kind of blokes, Reyno.
“There's no more excuses. We’re looking to do a job this week and try and get the outcome we deserve.
“We haven't played together as much this year due to injury.
“I've been out for a while at the start and then Patty's been out for a bit, Reyno, lots of people have been out.
“But it's a great opportunity to play together and try and get the result.
“I think it's an opportunity.
“They're first for a reason and they play a great brand of footy and it's a great way to get our footy on, play our best footy against them.
“Everyone's got lots of belief.
“If you watch our training out there, it doesn't look like a team that has lost eight in a row.
“Everyone's got lots of belief and everyone's still working hard. We know if we keep on working hard, the tide's going to turn.
“It starts this week against Penrith and there's no better opportunity to do it against a team like that.”
Barkin' Bargain Round 20: Payne Haas
With Haas leaving at the end of the season to reunite with Wayne Bennett – the coach who handed him his NRL debut in 2018 – at the Rabbitohs, the prop said the prospect of missing the finals was disappointing.
Unless they can turn their fortunes around, the Broncos risk becoming the first defending premier to miss the finals the following season since Wests Tigers went from the top of the mountain in 2005 to 11th in 2006.
“It would be very disappointing,” Haas said.
“That's what you strive for at the start of the season, but it is what it is.
“We’re worrying about our controllables and worry about day to day we'll go from there.”
Coach Michael Maguire has maintained his belief throughout the difficult period for the club and
“I've said it many times, is I believe in the group,” Maguire said.
“Having those players come back into the team, with a number of our guys getting a lot more experience than they probably normally would have, makes us a pretty strong squad.
“We're looking forward to the challenge ahead, and it starts tomorrow.
“I can't really remember the last time we've actually had them all together, so it was a while ago.
“But that's the journey of a season.
“Whatever you face, you have to deal with it.
“I think the players have put themselves in really good shape now to have a real crack at what's ahead of us.
“If they play to what we know we're capable of, they'll be a real handful for any team."
Match: Panthers v Broncos
Round 20 -
home Team
Panthers
1st Position
away Team
Broncos
14th Position
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
