Brisbane defensive coach Peter Ryan (pictured below at Broncos training yesterday) argues criticism of his left flank since round 13 should be measured by reference to the club's bright start to 2009.
"Our left side has been our rock for most of the year," Ryan said. "Corey, Pete, Antonio (Winterstein) and Steve Michaels have been outstanding for us. I can't say enough good things about those guys.
"They're our rock. Blokes have off-days. I hate to use the term but shit happens. It was uncharacteristic but I don't want to bag our players. The Rabbits played one side then switched to our left side and our left was wanting on the weekend.
"It was just an off-night, then they got flustered, and the same thing kept happening to them. They kept getting the same result."