EXCLUSIVE: Darren Lockyer, Wally Lewis weigh in after laughing Broncos criticised

Cooper Cronk questioned the "mindsets" of Broncos players after they were captured laughing in the sheds prior to what turned out to be an unexpected loss to the Roosters.

But Darren Lockyer and Wally Lewis have brushed off the suggestion that the jovial scenes may have indicated they weren't mentally prepared for Friday night's game, ultimately won by the Roosters 26-16 at Suncorp Stadium.

EXCLUSIVE: Gould urges Galvin to leave 'untenable' Tigers mess

READ MORE: 'Money Talks': Teammates accused of bullying teenage Tiger

READ MORE: Hird urges star to 'go away' after assault charge

"Our cameras [captured] the team in Suncorp before the game, and it doesn't tell you all the story, but it gets you a little bit of a snippet of the mindsets of what the team is about to run out on the field [with]," Cronk said on the Fox League broadcast after the game.

"And there was just a little bit of joking around with the Broncos — a little bit of sort of, not complacency, but not truly [being] dialled in to where you need to be every week in the NRL."

Lockyer, a Broncos legend and now a board member, recalled how laid back Allan Langer and Kevin Walters typically were ahead of games, and said no point would have been made of Brisbane players laughing before the Roosters clash if they had won the game.

"I played with Allan Langer and Kevin Walters. Those guys were very relaxed in having a laugh," Lockyer said on Wide World of Sports' QLDER.

"But before he'd run out, normally Alf would go over to the wheelie bin and have his spew.

"It's a bit odd [joking around prior to a game]. Someone could have dropped one ... That happens.

Watch the 2025 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.

"When you have an unexpected loss it puts the microscope on everything, right? If they go out and win that game, nothing's said."

Lockyer added that most NRL players were "pretty dialled in" ahead of games.

Lewis, the Broncos' inaugural captain, said it was important for senior players to sometimes "ease the tensions" in the sheds.

"Sometimes you try and make a judgement on how the other players are," Lewis said on QLDER.

"If they look like they're doing it a bit tough and are really starting to feel the tension, then they can try and ease that and make the lesser-experienced players feel a little bit more comfortable."

Broncos coach Michael Maguire wasn't asked about some of his players laughing in the sheds, but he said he felt the Roosters wanted the win more than his side.

"We didn't turn up physical enough to earn the right to get that one ... I felt they were a bit hungrier than where we were at ... They turned up and had a bit more physicality than what I know is in the team," Maguire said.

"You can't be complacent."

The Broncos are placed third on the ladder after round six, with four wins and two losses.

They will take on the sixth-placed Warriors in Auckland on Saturday evening.