- Night to forget for Broncos stars Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam
Broncos stars Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam were slammed by a host of NRL commentators following their team’s 40-32 defeat against Parramatta.
The premiers led 12-0 after 10 minutes at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night, but the Eels proved to be slippery customers.
Walsh scored two tries, but his defence left a lot to be desired at times.
‘Reece Walsh was nowhere to be seen, he’s clocked off, he’s finished for the night,’ Cooper Cronk said on Fox League when Eels pivot Jonah Pezet crossed the stripe late to seal the result.
Mam – who started in the halves after he was benched in his team’s season opener against Penrith – was woeful without the ball in hand.
He was at fault for Kelma Tuilagi’s and Isaiah Iongi’s first-half tries as the visitors ran riot at times.
Broncos stars Reece Walsh (pictured) and Ezra Mam were slammed by a host of NRL commentators following their team’s 40-32 defeat against Parramatta on Thursday
Mam was at fault for Kelma Tuilagi’s and Isaiah Iongi’s first-half tries as Brisbane suffered back-to-back defeats to open their 2026 season
Fox League identity Matty Johns loudly questioned the commitment of Brisbane’s stars in defence (pictured, fullback Isaiah Iongi burns past Mam to score a first-half try for the Eels
Speaking post-game, Broncos coach Michael Maguire summed up the performance after stating it was ‘very disappointing from a defence point of view.’
Fox League identity Matty Johns went a step further, loudly questioning the commitment of Brisbane’s stars.
‘If you enjoy fast open football and casual diabolical defence, this was the game for you,’ he said. ‘(What a) bizarre game.’
Bryan Fletcher added: ‘They (the Broncos) look like a shadow of their former selves from last year.’
Manly Sea Eagles premiership-winner Kieran Foran was on the same page.
‘The attacking football from both teams has been exceptional, but the defence has been feeble at times,’ he said.
Fox League’s Yvonne Sampson spoke for many frustrated Broncos supporters when she weighed in with: ‘they do look a little disjointed.’
Ominously, the Broncos next take on the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park on March 20 in a Grand Final replay from last year.
