Brisbane’s premiership defence is on the brink of collapse after Sharks flyer Sione Katoa bagged a hat-trick keep Cronulla’s top four hopes alive with a 28-16 win and relegate the Broncos to an eight straight defeat on Saturday night.
Broncos coach Michael Maguire needs to become a miracle maker if Brisbane is to create NRL history and play finals this year following a dramatic collapse.
Suncorp Stadium is no longer a fortress after the Broncos slumped to a fifth straight loss at home before 38,998, leaving Brisbane with the prospect of needing to win all eight of their remaining matches to play finals in 2026.
Round 18
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MATCH CENTRE: Brisbane Broncos vs Cronulla Sharks live scores, videos, teams
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No team in the compulsory grand final era of the game, since 1954, has made the finals after losing eight consecutive games during the regular season.
While Maguire blooded reserve grade journeymen Luke Gale and Josh Coric, Brisbane’s mounting injury toll was compounded by another concussion to forward Brendan Piakura.
The Broncos fought hard late in the game, but the reality is season 2026 is on the cusp of collapsing.
“Michael Maguire knows the plight of his team,” Andrew Voss said.
“Michael, it is now last-chance saloon. You can not afford to lose another game.”
Meanwhile, Yvonne Sampson added: “They have left this far too late”.
MADGE’S BIG DECISION
Maguire needs to make some brave calls to have any hope of salvaging Brisbane’s premiership defence.
The Broncos will relish a bye next weekend before a daunting month against top eight teams the Panthers, Cowboys, Knights and Dolphins.
The good news for the Broncos is the likes of Payne Haas, Pat Carrigan, Reece Walsh, Adam Reynolds, Ezra Mam, Josiah Karapani and Billy Walters should be back in the selection mix.
But it’s going to take something dramatic for Brisbane to be perfect in the last two months of the regular season.
With more players to select a team from for the Penrith game in a fortnight, it’s time Maguire put reputations aside and threw caution into the wind.
Halves Tom Duffy and Ben Hunt had a combined three runs while hooker Cory Paix only darted twice from dummy-half, scoring once.
The Broncos didn’t play any threatening footy until they trailed 22-6 and young hooker Blake Mozer came into the action.
Brisbane fought back to 22-16 with five to go, only for stand-in captain Kotoni Staggs to drop a regulation pass, allowing Braydon Trindall to race 65m to ice the game.
‘Starts and stops with me’ Benji | 03:12
SHIBA’S SHOCKER
If you wanted another example that Brisbane has lost its premiership hunger then Gehamat Shibasaki put one on a platter.
Shibasaki’s effort, or lack thereof, to stop Cronulla winger Sione Katoa scoring his second try was a worrying sign for Maguire.
In his first game back from a month off with a knee injury, Shibasaki made little effort to pounce on a bouncing ball and allowed Katoa to fall over the line to give Cronulla a 10-0 lead after 23 minutes.
“Is that Shibasaki’s best effort? Is that his most desperate effort to stop that?” Fox League’s Michael Ennis said.
“The minute the ball’s kicked, you’ve got to be more desperate to get there, get rid of it and back your defence to hold on for another set of six.”
Queensland legend Cooper Cronk said: “If he had of moved and went after this contest like his life depended on it then he stops the try.”
The Broncos simply don’t want it as badly as they did last year.
Holmes gets a double in Dragons win | 03:57
BAD BOY BRONCOS
The Broncos lived up to their reputation of being the most ill-disciplined team in the NRL this season.
You can make excuses for the amount of talent the Broncos are missing through injury and Origin, but you can’t excuse the poor discipline, schoolboy errors and lack of attention to detail.
Grant Anderson gifted Katoa the opening try when he unnecessarily tried to offload under pressure and was in no man’s land when the Cronulla winger finished his hat-trick.
The Broncos were sloppy in the ruck in possession, with Xavier Willison, Jordan Riki and Shibasaki making simple errors trying to play the ball.
Referee Gerard Sutton was in a mood to blow his whistle and the Broncos gave him plenty of reasons to ping them.
SHARK ATTACK
Cronulla is on the verge of securing a finals berth and remain in the hunt for the top four.
It wasn’t a polished performance from Cronulla and they gave away 10 penalties, many from sloppy play.
Halfback Nicho Hynes created two tries and Trindall’s match-winner was a just reward for a solid performance.
Katoa made the most of his opportunities and starting props Tom Hazelton (132m) and Jesse Colquhoun (116m) were too strong for their rivals.
FOX SPORTS LAB REPORT
Fox Lab Expected Set Points: Broncos 23.8, Sharks 17.5 – Brisbane were given plenty of opportunities to attack (10 penalties to 5 and 2 set restarts to 1) but could not take advantage.
Eight straight losses for the Broncos – only the third defending Premiers all time to lose eight or more consecutive games in the following season (Wests 9 – 1953, Canterbury 8 – 1943). No team in history has made the finals losing eight straight matches in a season.
Five wins from their past six starts for the Sharks. They have won all nine games this season conceding 22 points or less. Have won eight of their past 10 games in Origin affected rounds.
Sharks biggest win against the Broncos since 2012 – Have won two of their last three games against them.
Jesse Ramien was placed on report for a high tackle on Brendan Piakura in the back end of the first half. He has one careless high tackle charge in in round 3 and one dangerous contact charge in round 13
Brendon Piakura failed his HIA following the tackle – the Broncos have the bye next weekend.
Cameron McInnes was placed on report for a crusher tackle late in the match. He has other two unrelated charges this year
Fox Lab POTM – Sione Katoa scored the fourth hattrick of his career – first since 2023. He has just three tries from his previous nine games against the Broncos. He ran for almost 190 metres and was great under the high ball all night.
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