LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Leading NRL journalist David Riccio and ex-player James Graham have dismissed excuses claiming the Broncos' season is derailed due to recent injuries. Despite losing key players like Reece Walsh and Payne Haas, Broncos fans were shocked last week as both Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam both left the field holding their hamstrings simultaneously.
Later, during a 22-2 defeat to the Melbourne Storm, Cobbo also strained his hamstring. Mam and Cobbo are likely to miss the rest of the season, while Reynolds could potentially return if the Broncos make the finals.
Fans expressed concern that their season was in jeopardy after witnessing their halves depart. While Ben Hunt is expected to take one of the vacant positions, with another spot still uncertain.
However, not all are sympathetic towards Broncos fans' plight. Riccio criticized the narratives surrounding the club, asserting that many teams face injuries. He emphasized that the squad still includes talents like Reece Walsh and Payne Haas, who have the capability to defy skeptics. "Cry me a river. Are we seriously going to sit here, and Broncos fans are going to go now rip up their grand final tickets, on the basis of what has happened with these three injuries?" Riccio remarked on Triple M's NRL Daily. "There are clubs that have gone through so much worse this season and been able to respond. Not only that, they still maintain a roster that includes Reece Walsh, Pat Carrigan, Kotoni Staggs, Ben Hunt, Payne Haas...they can help you win a comp. Here we are, the Broncos, going to play the whole poor me card...you still have a star-studded roster; go and win the comp and show us what you are made of."
James Graham added that the Broncos have already lost their chance for a top-four finish due to earlier performances, stating, "The reason they are not going to play top four is because of other results at the start of the season. It's not because they lost three players in Melbourne."