LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
In a decision that has backfired spectacularly, Kevin Walters' choice to give Reece Walsh and his State of Origin teammates a rest in Round 17 has proven costly for the Brisbane Broncos, as their NRL finals aspirations have gone up in smoke after a crushing defeat to the Dolphins.
The Broncos were handed a golden opportunity to revive their playoff hopes after the Dragons faltered earlier in the day, but they were ruthlessly outplayed by Wayne Bennett's side at Suncorp Stadium.
Now, their only hope of salvaging a spot in the top-eight lies in a must-win showdown against the Melbourne Storm in the final round.
Sitting precariously just outside the playoff positions, with a daunting task ahead against the Storm, doubts have resurfaced about Walters' controversial decision to rest his Origin stars at a critical juncture in the season.
The fallout from the loss in New Zealand two months ago, where Walsh, Haas, and Carrigan were left out to recuperate after Origin duties, has come back to haunt the Broncos coach.
With their postseason dreams hanging by a thread, Walters and his team face an uphill battle to make amends for their costly misstep.
The pressure is on as they prepare for a do-or-die clash against the Storm, knowing that only victory will keep their slim hopes alive in the unforgiving NRL arena.