No ifs, no buts: Walters says Broncos ‘are going to make finals’

Kevin Walters is heading into the final two rounds of the 2024 NRL season with supreme confidence in his team, telling the rugby league world the Brisbane Broncos will be playing postseason matches in September.

The Broncos, who barely escaped a huge scare against Parramatta in round 25, sit two points outside the top eight with two games left to play across the campaign.

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While many have already written the team at Red Hill off—and some are simply tipping other hopefuls like the Dragons, Dolphins, Knights, or Raiders to make it instead—the Broncos coach has instead (perhaps unsurprisingly) defended his club’s chances to the hilt. In his mind, there’s only one way the last 14 days of the season plays out.

“There’s no if here, we’re going to make finals,” Walters declared.

“And yeah, [we can challenge in the finals]. We’ll make the finals, but we’ve got to play well [against the Dolphins]. We didn’t play well [against the Eels] and we managed to win, but if we come up with that again, it won’t be the same result.”

Walters’ bold claims came after watching his team cough up a “frustrating” opening against Parramatta, with the Broncos slumping to a 16-0 deficit they had to overcome to stay in the postseason funt. While the team struggled early, the Brisbane boss said he was very happy to see them “never give up”—a feeling they’re taking into the war.

There are two battles left in that war: First up, the Dolphins this weekend in the Battle of Brisbane. Then, the Broncos welcome minor premiers the Melbourne Storm to Suncorp Stadium in the last round; a very winnable match considering head coach Craig Bellamy may again rest a plethora of his first-grade superstars as playoffs loom.

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The Broncos will also need the St George Illawarra Dragons to lose to the Eels and the 12th-place Raiders. The Dragons have a terrible -120 point difference should Brisbane catch them.