Brisbane have sounded like a broken record in their claims they can still play finals this year, but there is nothing broken about the team they are set to name against Penrith.
State of Origin stars Patrick Carrigan, Payne Haas and Reece Walsh will all back in action for Thursday night's away clash with the Panthers, while halves duo Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds both trained strongly on Monday and are also set to return from injury.
Lock forward Carrigan (ankle) has not played for the Broncos in what will be 46 days when he lines up against the competition leaders.
NSW prop Haas has played just three NRL games in the past three months due to Origin commitments and a knee injury, while Walsh has also been absent on Maroons duty.
Reynolds (calf) and Mam (shoulder) last played in the round-15 loss to South Sydney.
The defending premiers, on 16 points and eight outside the top eight, must win all their remaining games to have a chance of playing finals.
"First and foremost we've got a lot of people back and we haven't really played together as much this year," Haas said.
"There's no more excuses. There's expectation on us to do our job and especially with everyone back with Walshy, Patty, Reyno and all those kind of blokes.
"We're looking to do a job this week and try and get the outcome we deserve."
There has been a lot of talk coming out of the Broncos lately about how they will turn their season around, but eight consecutive losses have belied the bravado.
Haas made headlines after the 30-26 loss to St George Illawarra in round 12 when he said the players were all talk and had been "BS-ing each other" about their commitment.
"I think it was frustration after the game," Haas said.
"I feel that game especially we were a bit behind the eight-ball, but I feel like we've taken a few leaps and bounds since then.
"We played the Roosters and nearly pulled the result. The Sharks last week, a few individual errors cost us, but we've come a long way since that.
"The boys here are working very hard and haven't got the chocolates yet."
Haas rubbished suggestions that coach Michael Maguire, signed until the end of 2027, was not the man to take the Broncos forward.
"He won us a premiership last year and I feel people are quick to forget that," Haas said.
"We want to put in the performance that Madge is proud of and we'll be looking to do that this week."
The decision by Haas to leave Brisbane for South Sydney next year has been highlighted by several pundits as a sign of discontent at the club and the beginning of the Broncos' slide.
"My decision to go to Souths is completely far away from this, from footy, from the Broncos club and from anyone here," Haas said.
"I have my reasons why I did that and I'm not going to talk about that again.
"We know if we keep on working hard, the tide's going to turn. It starts this week against Penrith."
Canberra Times
