Queensland and Brisbane legend Brent Tate believes the Broncos are “three to four years away” from being competitive again in the NRL.
After a 2-8 start to the season and a 44-point loss to Manly in Magic Round, Tate thinks the club is currently in a “mess”.
The Broncos have lost star youngsters Xavier Coates, Reece Walsh and Tom Dearden to rival clubs, and while Tate thinks while they still have some young talent left in their squad, they’re now mentally “really fragile”.
“When I look at the Broncos, I really can’t help to think they’re three to four years away from being competitive again, such is the mess that’s there,” Tate said on SEN 1170 Afternoons.
“Looking at the way they are, and some of the bad habits some of their young players already have.
“They’ve got some good young talent, but mentally, they’re really fragile.
“The danger that they run into now is that those blokes going forward might not be the players we think they can be.
“They haven’t had the tutelage of senior players around them.
“It’s not good, as a former Bronco, it’s bloody hard to watch.”
Channel Seven NRL reporter Chris Garry thinks the only way out for the Broncos is to move on veterans to release pressure on their salary cap and target players who want to win.
“The only way the Broncos are solving their issues is by fixing their cap,” Garry said on SEN Gold Coast’s Pat and Heals.
“The best way to do that right now is moving Matt Lodge on, but there’s unfortunately no buyers at the moment.
“For (Anthony) Milford, his contract runs out at the end of the season, and I don’t think they’ll re-sign him, I don’t think they’ll make him an offer.
“He won’t be signing anywhere for more than $400,000, and he’s been on $1 million.
“The Broncos need players who are desperate to win, Milford has many positives -he’s a nice, polite young guy – but he is not desperate to win, winning is not something he lives and breathes every day.
“There’s too many players at the Broncos who are just happy enough to put on a jersey and run around each week.
“The Broncos need players who are filthy at losing.”
The Broncos face the Sydney Roosters at the SCG on Saturday afternoon.