Phil Gould and Johnathan Thurston ignite criticism as Broncos fall victim to ‘under sevens’ blunder

The manner in which Latrell Mitchell scored in the closing moments against the Broncos has raised serious alarms among rugby league legends.

Just moments after successfully kicking an impressive two-point field goal from halfway, Mitchell took advantage of the Broncos’ laxity at dummy half, dropping to the ground before effortlessly diving over the line as the final siren sounded.

In the post-match analysis, the Nine panel described the Broncos’ defensive lapse as an “under sevens” mistake that had been thoroughly exploited by Mitchell’s exceptional skill.

“As he scored that try at the end, I turned to look at the Broncos and they were completely disarrayed. They were absolutely all over the place,” stated Johnathan Thurston.

“They seemed disconnected from one another, trapped inside their own thoughts – it was as if they were tiptoeing around on eggshells.

“Are they a better team than they were last year? We all anticipated that Michael McGuire would instil a tougher mentality into the Broncos. Yet, judging by their last five matches and their second-half collapses, there’s no toughness to be seen.

“If I were a fan of the Broncos, I would be extremely frustrated with how they are performing.”

The Broncos have now faced defeat in four of their past five matches, with only a spirited first-half blitz against the Bulldogs preventing them from more dire results. They found themselves trailing 18-0 in the second half until they managed a consolation try and a penalty goal in the final four minutes.

After ten rounds, the Broncos’ situation mirrors that of last season.

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In 2024, the Broncos were sitting sixth on the ladder with a 6-4 record and a positive for-and-against of 58 points. In 2025, they find themselves in the same position, holding a 5-5 record and a positive of 46 points.

“And we all know what unfolded last year,” Phil Gould noted. “The season fizzled out with little to show for it.

“A defeat like the one tonight is as significant a wake-up call as one could receive.

“The way the game concluded … that’s something you’d expect in Under 7s. He played dead.

“Observe the players’ body language. What Latrell did is akin to someone walking up to you in the main street of Sydney, pulling down your trousers in public, and you just standing there as if nothing has happened.

“You end up pondering, ‘What just occurred?’

NRLW icon Allana Ferguson asserted that the Broncos’ dilemma isn’t about a lack of talent.

“With players like Payne Haas and Patty Carrigan, and the experience they possess in their halves, plus the attacking prowess on the edges, they certainly have players with skill,” she articulated.

“The issue is not a deficiency in talent or skill on the field; it’s more related to heart.

“It’s about what happens when a team gives up in a game when they should continue fighting. There were mistakes in that match, and although the rain affected both teams, South Sydney demonstrated more effort and determination in the second half.

“That’s precisely why they emerged victorious.”

To add to their woes, Ben Hunt was forced off in the first half with a suspected hamstring issue, and the extent of the injury is currently unknown.

“My concerns for the Broncos revolve around where their mindset is at … it’s troubling,” Thurston expressed.

“They are in significant trouble.”