The young Brisbane Broncos proved their rebuilding phase is well and truly over as quickly as it began, charging all the way to the grand final and coming within minutes of dethroning the back-to-back Panthers.
While a scintillating 2023 campaign ended at the hands of Nathan Cleary’s magical second half in the big dance, everything up to that last 20 minutes was a huge green tick for a team many weren’t expecting to challenge properly for several seasons.
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That close-to-victory run leaves the Broncos as one of the teams to beat this time around, especially as Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam, and Billy Walters continue to settle into the spine with veteran commander Adam Reynolds. Starting in Las Vegas this weekend, the Brisbane powerhouse will mount another title run.
Last year’s finish: Second (grand finalists), 18 wins and six losses
Last ten NRL campaigns: 2nd (runners-up) 9th, 14th, spoon, 8th (qualifying), 5th (qualifying), 3rd (prelim), 5th (semi), 2nd (runners Up), 8th (qualifying)
Predicted Round 1 lineup
- Reece Walsh
- Jesse Arthars
- Selwyn Cobbo
- Kotoni Staggs
- Deine Mariner
- Ezra Mam
- Adam Reynolds
- Payne Haas
- Billy Walters
- Corey Jensen
- Brendan Piakura
- Jordan Riki
- Patrick Carrigan
- Tyson Smoothy
- Fletcher Baker
- Kobe Hetherington
- Xavier Willison
Coach: Kevin Walters
Biggest losses: Thomas Flegler Biggest gains: Fletcher Baker
How 2024 is looking for Brisbane
The biggest wins the Broncos had in the offseason came around re-signings. Ezra Mam and Reece Walsh both extended with the club for several years and even Adam Reynolds has stretched his contract another year.
This stability will only help as the Broncos look to shake themselves off and get back on the horse after the Cleary-fuelled loss they suffered at the hands of the Panthers in October last season.
As well as being one of the most exciting teams to watch on any given weekend, Kevin Walters’ men are another year wiser and have the pain of the 2023 loss fuelling them. Ironically, it was exactly that spark that the Panthers needed to go on to build their dynasty and while Brisbane may have to wait until Penrith’s premiership lineup is picked apart a little more, things are looking great indeed.
Again, the Broncos came within twenty minutes of the club’s first NRL silverware in nearly twenty years. If fortune shines on them just a little more in 2024, we could easily be seeing Brisbane achieve greatness—and even more so if they can get past the all-black Panthers machine.
Predicted 2024 finish: 2nd
First five: Roosters (A), Rabbitohs (H), Panthers (A), Cowboys (H), Storm (A)
TopSport odds: Premiers $4.40, Make Top 4: $1.60, Make Final 8: $1.12, Miss The Top 8: $5.50
Pass mark: Top four finish and preliminary finals.
