Broncos put on notice after poor training habits
Brisbane’s bumbling and fumbling in games has been replicated at training with players copping a blast from assistant coach Lee Briers.
After a suite of dropped balls, Briers was heard to say to the players on Wednesday: “Get your hands off your knees and change your mentality.”
Broncos players Jesse Arthars and Tristan Sailor have also admitted change is paramount to the side playing to their potential, starting with Saturday night’s away clash with North Queensland.
Brisbane have lost eight of their past nine games where repeated handling errors and a lack of cohesion and connection have been endemic. Those flaws have been apparent to any keen observer who has watched training. It is a key reason why they are six points outside the top eight.
Too often an error is made at training with no consequences for the offender. The frenetic nature of the side’s attack in games is mirrored by training actions.
“It’s not ideal having the errors at training but that happens throughout the year,” Arthars said.
“We’ve got to move on to the next job and try not to make as many errors as we have at training.
“We’ll be better for it if we make less errors.”
Arthars was asked about the repeated mistakes at training and whether there was accountability for actions.
“The onus is on the player,” he said
“You need to prepare for each training session and game.
“You have to make sure you have a clear head when you go to training.
“If someone makes an error, they don’t mean to do it but they’ve got to focus a bit more at training.”
Sailor also reinforced the issue of personal responsibility.
“With the type of players we have, me and Walshy (Reece Walsh) in particular, stuff comes off and stuff doesn’t,” he said.
“We can live with that but it is the basics of clear dropped balls and missing our effort areas and stuff like that is something that can be lifted.
“Personal responsibility has come to a head this week and that is where everyone needs to be better at training. It is about holding each other accountable.
“When you are telling your mate next to you that they have got to be better hopefully there is more attention paid up that.”
The issue is not one that has just appeared in the last week.
During the captain’s run before the clash with Penrith in round 18 multiple passes hit the deck.
There had been several positional changes with centre Deine Mariner and Arthars having mixups on their edge with the timing of their passes after Kotoni Staggs was ruled out of the match. They weren’t the only culprits. The effort was there but the execution was not.
This week the errors continued with a pass on Tuesday hitting Mariner flush on the head. On Wednesday the fumbles continued with two Walsh passes going to ground.
After another ball hit the deck, Briers could be heard exhorting the players to lift their game.
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