Mole’s season review: Origin star ‘totally lost his way’ as Broncos burned

Where do you even start to analyse what went so badly wrong at the Broncos in 2026?

No reigning premier since the game began in Australia in 1908 has had such a dramatic fall from grace, and it’s hard to believe a team choc full of Test and Origin players could perform so consistently badly after the heroics of last year.

Yes, injuries were a factor - superstars Reece Walsh and Payne Haas were both out for a couple of months, general Adam Reynolds battled problems all year and inspirational hooker Billy Walters played a mere five games when all was already lost.

But the Broncos still had enough star power to do much better than they did and even when at near full strength, they crashed and burned in many games.

Ironically, they saved probably their best performance for the last round when the pressure was off, playing razzle-dazzle football against fellow strugglers Canterbury to record a big win.

Their home form was especially disappointing - they lost their final nine home games - often in front of stunned full houses at Suncorp who could barely believe what they were watching.

In his final season, Reynolds tried his best to rally the troops and his game management helped win a few tight contests but his body finally gave out on him and no one was capable of filling the void.

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The farcical way in which he was denied a farewell appearance - and the club’s attempts to cover up the truth surrounding it - sums up what a mess the Broncos were on and off the field in 2026.

Walsh had moments of brilliance but often over-played his hand, making unforced errors that killed the Broncos’ attacking momentum.

Will things get any better in 2027? With Reynolds retired and Haas, regarded as the world’s best prop, moving on, the Broncos could again struggle, especially if the rift between the players and coach Michael Maguire isn’t patched up over the summer. 

Best player: Xavier Willison is the man destined to fill Haas’ big boots was one of the few Broncos to play consistently well in 2026 and his size and strength were too much for many teams to handle.

Biggest disappointment: The success story of 2025, Gehamat Shibasaki, totally lost his way and went from being a Test player to the Queensland Cup. He’s been shipped off to new chums Perth as a result. 

Key signing:  Jonah Pezet, who had a quiet year at the Eels, will need to step up and fill Reynolds’ boots in the key halfback spot. 

2027 gains: Jonah Pezet (Eels), Mitch Barnett (Warriors), Dane Gagai (Knights), Shawn Blore (Storm)

2027 losses: Adam Reynolds (retiring), Payne Haas (Rabbitohs), Grant Anderson (Warriors), Jesse Arthars (Catalans), Gehamat Shibasaki (Bears)