I need to vent a little and I guess this is the best place for it. I'm probably not as emotional as some others over this loss but I am extremely disappointed, embarrassed and concerned. I think I'm a pretty level headed guy so I'll give my thoughts and opinions about todays game.
I'll tell you exactly why I think today's loss is of extreme concern. The Dragons have been ordinary the last 6 or 7 weeks, below average, losing games by thrashings etc. where as on the other hand, the Broncos, we've been going great guns the last 3 or 4 weeks, beating premiership contenders the Roosters and South's and really going on a roll. Smashing teams. Rolling through them. Scoring tries from all over the field. Confidence at it's absolute peak. We have been basically unstoppable. So, coming up against the Dragons, at our home ground, in an everything to play for elimination final should mean we win pretty convincingly, right?
Wrong.
From the opening kick off, we just didn't and couldn't match the intensity of the Dragons forwards, they were steam rolling us, we had nothing. We lead 10-2 but the very next set we drop the ball and they score and the game was theirs from that point on.
They piled on 48 points on us. At our home ground. In an elimination final. With everything to play for. Think about that. 48 points to 18. They've been horrendous and we've been terrific but yet they not only beat us, they embarrassed us. They annihilated us. They tore us to shreds. We were never in it. It wasn't only a loss. It was a horror show and we were the main event.
I'm sure us, as fans, can accept a loss, I know I can, as long as the team plays with some heart and desire I can accept we can't win every game, it's just not realistic. But, to be beaten the way we were today, in front of our fans, in Sam's final game with everything to play for is a disgrace to what the Brisbane Broncos stand for. It's an embarrassment to the fans. It's a disgrace to the jersey. I know we are getting laughed at.
We have been going downhill every year since 2015 and this loss should spark some sort of change. I'm Wayne's biggest supporter but after today, he really can't blame the board for not wanting to renew his contract for 2020 and beyond. Look at us. We just aren't a top 4 team. Our defense sucks but imo, our biggest weakness is our mentality. We are weak mentally. We can't go with the best teams when they step up in intensity. We just buckle under pressure and we succumb. We basically become their bitch.
This loss is an extrodinary disappointment. It feels like the Griffin era in 2012-2014. I never thought I'd feel that again when Wayne came back but low and behold, it's here. I'm personally embarrassed in the team after today and as a long time supporter am let down by the players in what they dished up to us. Totally and completely unacceptable.