Kevin Walters, coach of the Brisbane Broncos, furiously berated his players and stormed out of the dressing room after the team’s sixth straight loss. The Broncos, now 13th on the NRL ladder, desperately need a win to keep their finals hopes alive.
The Broncos’ 30-26 defeat to St George Illawarra has left their finals aspirations in disarray. No team in NRL premiership history has recovered from six consecutive losses to win the title.
St George dominated the first half, with Jaydn Su’A, a former Bronco, playing a standout game. The Dragons scored three of their four first-half tries in nine minutes, capitalizing on Brisbane’s errors to lead 22-6 at halftime, stunning the 34,224-strong crowd.
Coach Walters, visibly angry, tore into his team before abruptly leaving the sheds. Mal Meninga commented on the situation, attributing the losses to team roster and execution issues.
At the post-match press conference, Walters expressed his frustration. “We’re much better than this. I’m disappointed in our performance and in myself as a coach for allowing this to happen,” he said.
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan praised his team’s dominant start. “Our first 40 minutes and the initial 10 minutes of the second half were impressive,” he said, acknowledging their struggle to maintain the lead but crediting the early performance for the win.
Christian Tuipulotu scored his first career hat-trick, showcasing his strength. Despite trailing 28-6, Broncos’ Ezra Mam narrowed the margin with a powerful play. Later, fullback Tristan Sailor set up Kotoni Staggs for a thrilling 55-meter try. Although Kyle Flanagan’s penalty extended the Dragons’ lead, Blake Mozer and Staggs’ efforts brought the game to a tense finish.
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