Tom Dearden, Kotoni Staggs and Pat Carrigan showed what the future might look like in Brisbane on Friday night but another loss couldn’t paper over the cracks as the Broncos flirt with the NRL’s wooden spoon.
A Canterbury win against the Warriors on Sunday will consign them to last on the ladder, a position the proud club has never occupied so late in a season.
It would come despite 21-year-old Staggs, 19-year-old Dearden and 22-year-old captain Carrigan almost inspiring them to a comeback victory over St George Illawarra at Suncorp Stadium.
Trailing 12-0 after just six minutes, the Broncos found rare second-half spark to surge level.
Two late penalties were the difference though in a 28-24 loss – their 12th from 13 games since the competition’s restart.
Carrigan made 46 tackles to go with 196 run metres in an 80-minute performance while halfback Dearden defended well and scored a late try.
Staggs beat three defenders with a combination of speed, strength and guile in a 75m effort that came days after he questioned the leadership performance of his side’s senior players.
Stand-in coach Peter Gentle hailed all three, anointing Dearden as the club’s future No.7 after he replaced off-season recruit Brodie Croft in the position this week.
“Every game these kids are getting … in a tough season it’s good grounding for the future and they’ll definitely cherish the wins,” Gentle said.
“Leaders come in all shapes and forms and for Kotoni to stand up earlier in the week (and challenge his team’s leaders), I thought that showed leadership in a funny sort of way.
“They’re all finding a voice and we won’t be stopping that.”
Carrigan wasn’t content with the pat on the back though, acutely aware of the position the club is in.
“I am too competitive to do that,” he said when asked if he had one eye on next season.
“We’re in the results business and we need results, especially playing for the Broncos.
“A lot of us have a point to prove and make up for some of the footy we’ve played over the last 10 weeks and turn some potential into performances.”
