The Brisbane Broncos burst into the 2025 season with renewed hope beneath Michael Maguire, however early wins have come in opposition to weak opposition, and back-to-back losses have uncovered deep structural flaws.
This week’s conflict with the ladder-leading Bulldogs shapes as a crucial take a look at of their credentials.
Listed here are 5 key modifications Maguire must make, and the persistent points that present why Brisbane nonetheless received’t be lifting a trophy this season.
1. Reinstate Carrigan as an 80-minute lock
Carrigan should return to taking part in full-time at lock. His brief passing sport is essential for linking up the forwards, and his skill to dig into the road is significant for straightening the staff’s sweep performs. Losing Carrigan on low-impact kick-off hit-ups underuses his strengths, a job higher suited to a workhorse like Corey Jensen.
This shift would additionally enhance Brisbane’s interchange rotation. They presently carry a hooker, lock, and edge ahead who can’t play 80 minutes, which strains their interchange and forces Payne Haas into longer stints.
Letting Carrigan go the gap in his most well-liked function would free Haas to play high-impact, 30-minute bursts to open and shut video games. Regardless of his motor, Haas’s present workload is unsustainable — lowering his effectiveness and rising damage threat over an extended season.
Payne Haas is tackled. (Photograph by Matt King/Getty Pictures)
A extra balanced rotation would liberate Kobe Hetherington to return to his greatest function as interchange ahead with leg velocity and unleash Xavier Willison as an affect ahead.
2. Clear up the left edge second-row downside
The left-edge second row stays a evident weak spot.
Brendan Piakura is the one viable long-term choice within the roster. He has the athleticism and energy however lacks defensive instincts and footy IQ. Maguire is true to make him earn the function after being over-promoted in 2024, however the membership should spend money on his improvement, significantly his defensive reads and managing aggression.
Brisbane ought to discover a mid-season mortgage for a dependable edge ahead given their surplus of hookers and middles. Jack Gosiewski shouldn’t be in first-grade consideration, and Willison is greatest saved within the center. Apart from Piakura, the one lifelike stopgap choice is Jaiyden Hunt.
3. Cease the early-set kicks
Brisbane should abandon the behavior of early-set attacking kicks.
This isn’t pre-COVID soccer. Repeat units are far much less invaluable given the prevalence of brief drop outs, which Brisbane not often defuses, and the chance of conceding a seven-tackle set.
The higher sides construct stress by possession and incomes six-agains. Groups just like the Sharks and Bulldogs usually end units by operating right into a nook moderately than threat a turnover by a poorly weighted kick. There’s a time and place for early kicks to maintain dashing defences sincere, however Brisbane leans on the tactic far too usually.
This over-reliance stems from ageing halves with restricted operating threats and Reece Walsh’s reluctance to construct stress. The staff should rewire its attacking instincts to be extra aggressive with ball in hand.
4. Restructure the assault
Brisbane’s assault is simply too lateral.
The halves overplay their hand, leaving Walsh with little area or time. They need to modernise their constructions, utilizing double-block shapes with second-rowers and centres and designing performs that give outdoors backs early ball, with Walsh used as a decoy as a substitute.
A major a part of the difficulty is their edge forwards, who provide little risk. They run poor decoy traces and lack the talent to ball-play. Immediately’s high edge forwards, equivalent to Viliame Kikau, Briton Nikora and Hudson Younger, can cross in addition to they run. This unlocks extra attacking constructions and permutations. Brisbane’s ways and recruitment are beginning to really feel dated, they usually sorely miss Kurt Capewell’s delicate expertise.
5. Return Mam to five-eighth and reignite help play
Mam should return to the No. 6 jersey.
He straightens the assault and helps line breaks higher than Ben Hunt, who not has the velocity for a contemporary five-eighth. In the meantime, Walsh should get extra concerned across the ruck, trailing offloads and fast play-the-balls.
Brisbane’s line breaks and second-phase alternatives are presently going to waste as a result of poor help play.
Why Brisbane nonetheless aren’t an actual risk in 2025
Even with these changes, deeper issues persist. Whereas the enhancements and the sheer expertise within the staff ought to enable Brisbane to play finals footy, the next systemic points will maintain them again from being an actual premiership risk this yr:
Backs Can’t Get Them Out of Bother: The backline struggles for metres. Set begins are very important in at present’s sport, and with Walsh operating sideways and Arthars missing measurement, Brisbane can’t construct the momentum wanted to win the ball-in-play battle.
Paper-Skinny Second Row: Brisbane’s edge ahead choices are the weakest within the league. They lack aggression and foot velocity. Jordan Riki has one of many softest carries within the comp, and there’s no dependable resolution on the left both.
Poor Roster Development: 4 hookers on the roster, plus the addition of Hunt, makes little sense. The squad desperately wants a cellular, leg-speed center and a much bigger again for yardage units. These are key recruitment targets for 2026.
Error-Susceptible and Missing Stress Sport: Dealing with errors and panic performs are frequent. Gamers too usually go for miracle performs as a substitute of grinding down defences with repeat units and discipline place.
Reece Walsh. (Photograph by Scott Gardiner/Getty Pictures)
Suspect Kick Defusal: Walsh and Jesse Arthars stay weak beneath the excessive ball. Selwyn Cobbo is ceaselessly caught infield and too sluggish to show and canopy grubbers. Not helped by Kotoni Staggs’ choice to jam in defence, which frequently leaves the proper edge uncovered.
Brisbane has the expertise to contend for the highest 4 in a wide-open competitors. A extra environment friendly center rotation and Mam’s return ought to considerably enhance their go-forward and attacking cohesion.
The following month with out Walsh might show a blessing in disguise, providing him a psychological reset and giving Cobbo the possibility to point out the worth of a robust yardage fullback.
Whereas Brisbane’s goal-line defence has improved and Gehamat Shibasaki’s resurgence is nothing wanting exceptional, the roster’s flaws stay too deep. With out daring modifications and shrewd recruitment for 2026, the success of 2023 might already be a distant reminiscence.
