Brisbane Broncos coach Michael Maguire has expressed confidence that the team's chances of defending their NRL title remain intact, despite facing a heavy 42-point loss against South Sydney on Thursday night.
The Rabbitohs dominated the game early, securing a commanding 30-point lead by half-time, leaving the reigning champions in a precarious position with a sixth consecutive defeat.
Brisbane's streak of losses has been against teams positioned in the top eight, including Sydney, New Zealand, and Manly.
However, setbacks against teams with fewer wins, such as winless St George Illawarra and the two-win Gold Coast, have significantly impacted the Broncos' standings.
As of now, with a record of 5-9, Brisbane finds themselves six points out of the top eight as they approach round 15.
When questioned about the state of the team's title defence, Maguire remained resolute, stating his belief in the squad's potential.
"We're still well and truly alive, and people will probably think I'm mad," he proclaimed.
He highlighted the absence of several key players from the squad.
"I've got a number of guys that are not on the field at this present moment," he noted.
Maguire emphasized that they would not use this situation as an excuse, adding that once the injured players return, the team's quality would be bolstered.
In addition to the mentioned absentees due to State of Origin, the Broncos were also missing starters like Pat Carrigan, Gehamat Shibasaki, Deine Mariner, and Corey Jensen due to injuries.