{"id":336291,"date":"2023-10-04T19:21:20","date_gmt":"2023-10-04T19:21:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=336291"},"modified":"2023-10-04T20:01:04","modified_gmt":"2023-10-04T20:01:04","slug":"broncos-star-unfairly-targeted-after-capitulation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=336291","title":{"rendered":"Broncos star 'unfairly targeted' after capitulation"},"content":{"rendered":"

It's doubtful if any team since 1908 will go through a more gut-wrenching off-season than the Broncos<\/a> are about to embark on in the next few months.<\/p>\n

Kevin Walters<\/a>' men head into summer with the nightmare realisation that they had the premiership won \u2026 and then saw it slip away in just 14 minutes.<\/p>\n

The Broncos were the better team for much of one of the great grand finals, and when Ezra Mam galloped over for a stunning hat-trick midway through the second half, even the most ardent Panthers fan thought the three-peat was dead.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Last-minute twist plunges Bathurst 1000 into chaos<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> AFL icon shames 'entitled' minister for 'brazen' GF act<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Aussie kicked out of Shanghai Masters after hitting umpire<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

But it was then that the Panthers' big game experience – and the Broncos' lack of it – kicked in and Nathan Cleary orchestrated the great escape with three tries to snatch the decider 26-24<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Yet despite the heartache, it was a marvellous year from the Broncos, who went from wooden spooners just three years ago to within inches of premiership glory.<\/p>\n

The team played superb attacking football all season, finishing equal first with the Panthers after the regular season with 18 wins and just six losses.<\/p>\n

Fullback Reece Walsh established himself as one of the game's genuine superstars, having a wonderful season, scoring nine tries and setting up countless more for his outside men Selwyn Cobbo, Herbie Farnworth, Jesse Arthurs and Kotoni Staggs.<\/p>\n

Mam, still only 20, was sensational at five-eighth while Adam Reynolds<\/a>' leadership and direction was crucial in many big games.<\/p>\n

\"Walters'<\/p>\n

Reynolds has been unfairly targeted by some critics for the Broncos' late collapse in the big dance – without his cool head, the Broncos would never have got as far as they did.<\/p>\n

Up front, Payne Haas continued to break records with his amazing motor, often topping the running metres and tackle count.<\/p>\n

Fellow forwards Pat Carrigan, Tom Flegler, Billy Walters and Jordan Riki all enjoyed career best seasons as the Broncos established themselves as a team to be feared in 2024 and beyond.<\/p>\n

\"2023<\/p>\n

When the players sit down and do their season review, it will be painful – but they will be better for it in the long run and again shape as the Panthers' biggest danger next season.<\/p>\n

Best player<\/strong>: A toss-up between Haas and Walsh – two players with vastly different styles and strengths – but two of the most exciting talents in the game.<\/p>\n

Key signing<\/strong>: Fletcher Baker is the club's only 'name' signing to date and he faces a tough job replacing Flegler in the engine room.<\/p>\n

2024 gains<\/strong>: Fletcher Baker (Roosters)<\/p>\n

2024 losses<\/strong>: Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins), Keenan Palasia (Titans), Tom Flegler (Dolphins).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It's doubtful if any team since 1908 will go through a more gut-wrenching off-season than the Broncos are about to embark on in the next […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":336293,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/336291"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=336291"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/336291\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":336295,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/336291\/revisions\/336295"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/336293"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=336291"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=336291"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=336291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}