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Can the Broncos handle losing Reynolds, Mam and Cobbo?
Nicholas Quinlan • August 8th, 2025 10:56 am
SEN’s Andrew Voss and Greg Alexander have pondered what the effect of Adam Reynolds, Ezra Mam and Selwyn Cobbo’s injuries could have on the Brisbane Broncos’ season.
All three players had to come off the ground with hamstring injuries as the Broncos lost to the Melbourne Storm 22-2 at AAMI Park on Thursday night.
Reynolds and Mam would come off during the 21st minute, with the Broncos leading 2-0, which proved to be a pivotal moment for Brisbane, as the Storm began to dominate the game.
Cobbo’s injury would not come until the last moments of the game, with the result well and truly decided.
It now means that the Broncos have only one game in their last 18 matchups against Melbourne. It also puts their finals chances at risk with the possibility that they could fall from 6th to 8th by the end of the round.
Speaking post-game, SEN League commentator Tim Mannah was concerned for coach Michael Maguire and what it could mean for their season.
“It wasn't their night, the Broncos, you couldn’t have seen that coming,” he told SEN League.
“It left them with an uphill battle, they were so tough.
“Like Madge (Maguire) is going to go in the sheds tonight and be happy with the performance and how tough they were, but he's also not gonna sleep tonight because he's going to know how tough the next few weeks is gonna be and then and what this means for their season.”
Voss in the aftermath would pose Alexander a question on SEN 1170 Breakfast was similar as to whether the Broncos could hold onto their top-eight spot without having Reynolds and Mam in at the halves for a period of time.
“Reynolds, Mam, impossible to see coming back anytime,” Voss said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“Best case, a couple of weeks (out). Worst case, 4-6 (weeks), could be more.
“Are you saying, no Reynolds, no Mam, no Broncos, Brandy? As in, could struggle to hold their spot in the eight?”
And after going through their remaining four matches, Alexander thinks it is a possibility that they could lose more games than they win.
“They play the Dolphins, then they play Newcastle, then it’s the Cowboys, and then it’s the Melbourne Storm again back in Brisbane,” he explained.
“Dolphins, Cowboys (and), Storm, they could lose all three, they could.
“I think they beat Newcastle because they’ll have to.”
For Voss, however, his attention turned to how coach Michael Maguire will replace the losses of these players, believing that Reece Walsh and Ben Hunt will need to lift their game to keep Brisbane in the eight.
“My concern is, (they have) capable players,” he said.
“You’re talking about Walsh, Ben Hunt goes to halfback, and Billy Walters, a grand final hooker, starts at hooker. Five-eighth is the tricky one.
“I don’t think Walsh is going well enough, and I don’t think Hunt is gone as well as I thought he would.
“They are going to have to find their best form of the season. Those two players (need to do well) if Brisbane is to go.”
Brisbane’s next match will be against the high-scoring Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium next Saturday in what will be a season-defining match for both sides.
