LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Broncos leader Patrick Carrigan has come to the defense of his teammates amid criticism of the team's toughness, especially in the forward pack.
The Broncos recently suffered a second-straight defeat against the Warriors, with concerns mounting over the injury toll.
Reece Walsh is set to be out of action for up to six weeks due to a knee injury, leaving coach Michael Maguire with a decision to make regarding the fullback position.
The criticism surrounding the team has focused on the physicality of the forward pack and the reliance on players like Payne Haas and Carrigan.
Questions have been raised about Kobe Hetherington's role in the starting side, and the second-row pairing has been inconsistent.
Despite the recent defeats, prop Corey Jenson believes that the team showed improvement in their physicality against the Warriors.
Jenson stated on SEN Radio, "Madge probably sort of poked the bear a bit after the Roosters game when he said we weren't physical enough to start.
I thought we took a great step against the Warriors and set a standard defensively that we want to maintain this year." The upcoming challenge against the undefeated Bulldogs will be tough, as they have the best defensive record in the game so far.
The Broncos have struggled offensively in recent weeks, while the Bulldogs have kept their last two opponents scoreless.
Carrigan acknowledges the criticism but remains optimistic, stating, "I think there's been a few unfair comments about the toughness out there, and especially about the forward pack being weak." He believes that the team is working hard to address these issues and improve their performance on the field.
Overall, Carrigan and the Broncos are focused on regaining their form and silencing the critics as they prepare for their upcoming match against the Bulldogs.
The team is determined to rise to the challenge and demonstrate their strength both defensively and offensively on the field.