SPOILER The Dynasty Begins: The Brisbane Broncos are winning back-to-back premierships in 2026

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So a bit earlier than I would have liked, but given I wanted this to concide with my 10,000th post on BHQ (and I can't go 2 more months without saying anything) - you'll have to live with it.

I am officially declaring that the Brisbane Broncos are going back-to-back in 2026.

After that grand final, I dont see how anyone beats us next year. We have the best forwards, the best backs, and with Mam and Walsh showing they can now lead the team, we only need Hunt and Reynolds to catch/pass/kick their way to retiring as champions.

Last year, I made my first and only prediction on this site, and as everyone now knows, it came true. So, by all available data and logic, that means this one is 100% guaranteed as well.

So start making your plans for another trip to Sydney, because history is repeating itself! You've all have plenty of warning - so no excuses about flight/accommodation prices next October.

Merry (very early) Christmas!

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I think we are a BIG chance depending on the draw and injuries, and all those beautiful variables.

A few obvious key points that will get us there

- Health of Reece Walsh / Payne Haas throughout the season.
I think 2024 was somewhat clear proof of this.
I think other players can be somewhat 'covered' but not these 2... they have to play major roles, and certainly our fullback needs to be there on GF day to give us the 'best' shot.

- How Reyno plays / Consistency/ Continuity of our spine

- Top 4 and who we meet , when and where
2025 was the greatest campaign EVER. bar none.
Minor premiers @ AWAY
Reigning 4x premiers @ PRELIM
Premiership favourites @ GF
Crazy Crazy Crazy and will 'probably' be the best Bronco title in my lifetime...
but that stuff just doesn't happen easily, a bounce of the ball, a bad refs call, a 50-50 that doesn't go our way, etc.
Thats all you need to lose one of those games...
Although we would have no fear, I daresay we can't be relying on our finals campaign with 'fitness comebacks' in 2026.
The history has shown, the proof is pudding, coming top 4, then winning week 1 to get a prelim at home is the way to go, and if you are on an easy side of the draw while you do it (i.e. MELB 2025) then its a ticket to the GF isn't it.

Overall, at the very least
We should be aiming for the PRELIM every year, for the next 5 years.
It looks like its going to be a shoot out with Melbourne, Panthers, Raiders... at SOME point you will have to will most likely have to beat one of these teams in a prelim/GF.

I would personally be ecstatic with 2/5 titles over the next 5 years, but certainly at least 1, while being competitive in all 5.

Lets go BRONCS!
 
Professor47 said:
I think we are a BIG chance depending on the draw and injuries, and all those beautiful variables.

A few obvious key points that will get us there

- Health of Reece Walsh / Payne Haas throughout the season.
I think 2024 was somewhat clear proof of this.
I think other players can be somewhat 'covered' but not these 2... they have to play major roles, and certainly our fullback needs to be there on GF day to give us the 'best' shot.

- How Reyno plays / Consistency/ Continuity of our spine

- Top 4 and who we meet , when and where
2025 was the greatest campaign EVER. bar none.
Minor premiers @ AWAY
Reigning 4x premiers @ PRELIM
Premiership favourites @ GF
Crazy Crazy Crazy and will 'probably' be the best Bronco title in my lifetime...
but that stuff just doesn't happen easily, a bounce of the ball, a bad refs call, a 50-50 that doesn't go our way, etc.
Thats all you need to lose one of those games...
Although we would have no fear, I daresay we can't be relying on our finals campaign with 'fitness comebacks' in 2026.
The history has shown, the proof is pudding, coming top 4, then winning week 1 to get a prelim at home is the way to go, and if you are on an easy side of the draw while you do it (i.e. MELB 2025) then its a ticket to the GF isn't it.

Overall, at the very least
We should be aiming for the PRELIM every year, for the next 5 years.
It looks like its going to be a shoot out with Melbourne, Panthers, Raiders... at SOME point you will have to will most likely have to beat one of these teams in a prelim/GF.

I would personally be ecstatic with 2/5 titles over the next 5 years, but certainly at least 1, while being competitive in all 5.

Lets go BRONCS!
Click to expand...
In terms of injuries, its post origin for me. If we can escape origin with a relatively healthy team, we can go on a run (no matter where we are on the ladder). I think we can cover Hass - for a game or two at least, but I dont know what we do about Walsh... maybe Billy can play fullback too.

2026 will be a tougher season - the qld teams already step up a level when they play us, but now so will everyone else. Timing of our bye rounds will be big too - we've been lucky with those so far.
 
Big Call. For me there are 2 factors
Attitude and Injuries to key players.
Now that we have won a premiership, are the players going to be hungry enough to go through a rigorous pre season again and buy into what is required to go back to back, or rest on their laurels and think job done.
 
Skyblues87 said:
Big Call. For me there are 2 factors
Attitude and Injuries to key players.
Now that we have won a premiership, are the players going to be hungry enough to go through a rigorous pre season again and buy into what is required to go back to back, or rest on their laurels and think job done.
Click to expand...
Team is young, and I think a lot of them have something to prove. A premiership is nice, but if they want to be remembered, they've got to keep it going.

If anyone can keep them hungry it'll be Madge. I expect the competition for spots to continue in 26.
 
pennywisealfie said:
I'd bloody love to go do it again. But I'm also okay if we don't. Comps are so hard to win. Just happy to have one.
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Problem is that if we dont win it, Penrith will - and they've won enough.

If we didn't knock them out, they would have beaten Melbourne.

We have to win it again. For Rugby League.
 
I think the big thing moving forward is being able to manage a season and secure that top 4 spot... once that spot is secured the finals are a completely different competition.

The big things for us will be improving our defence so it becomes automatic and muscle memory.

If the defence is on point then a backup fullback to Reece isn't required to score 30pts to win a game, you'd be aiming to keep them sub-16 pts, which is far more manageable.

Other than defence it's also ruthlessness... we need teams coming into games against broncos expecting to lose. They might hang for 20mins, but if they concede early the bad thoughts start coming in and then you run over the top of them.

We start doing those things then Top 4 becomes automatic and you're always in the conversation for the GF.

Then you have big game players like Walsh, Ezra, Payne and Patty, for when you get into the GF.
 
broncsgoat said:
We’re $5.50 joint favourites with the Storm and the riff are $6
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Id have Riff as favourites next year.

Their young guys have levelled up, they didnt lose anyone this year and they arent going to Vegas... so they wont be starting slow next year.

They wont have a home ground again, but I dont think that is a massive issue to them.
 
BroncsFan said:
I think the big thing moving forward is being able to manage a season and secure that top 4 spot... once that spot is secured the finals are a completely different competition.

The big things for us will be improving our defence so it becomes automatic and muscle memory.

If the defence is on point then a backup fullback to Reece isn't required to score 30pts to win a game, you'd be aiming to keep them sub-16 pts, which is far more manageable.

Other than defence it's also ruthlessness... we need teams coming into games against broncos expecting to lose. They might hang for 20mins, but if they concede early the bad thoughts start coming in and then you run over the top of them.

We start doing those things then Top 4 becomes automatic and you're always in the conversation for the GF.

Then you have big game players like Walsh, Ezra, Payne and Patty, for when you get into the GF.
Click to expand...
Yea if there is one main thing we need to improve on its defence. We definitely had it in patches though - and when it counted most - just need to be more consistant.

2nd year with the same coaches should help.
 
broncsgoat said:
We’re $5.50 joint favourites with the Storm and the riff are $6
Click to expand...
The runner up always seems to be listed as favourites the following year. Thing is, I dont see Melbourne getting any better than they already are.

I think it'll be us, Penrith and some random team that no one sees coming (like the Raiders this year).
 
Santa said:
The runner up always seems to be listed as favourites the following year. Thing is, I dont see Melbourne getting any better than they already are.

I think it'll be us, Penrith and some random team that no one sees coming (like the Raiders this year).
Click to expand...
I can see Melbourne flailing next year. Dunno if that’s just my wishful thinking.

I think Penrith favourites, Broncos 2nd.

Smoky: Dolphins and Eels.

If Sharks can find a gun fullback then they could improve too.
 
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