Brisbane Broncos legend Gorden Tallis has criticised the club’s leadership and expressed concerns about the aging core of the team as they face mounting pressure to end a losing streak. Tallis singled out captain and halfback Adam Reynolds, coach Michael Maguire, and chief executive Dave Donaghy ahead of the Broncos’ Round 15 clash against the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Thursday night at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.

The Broncos are enduring a difficult season, having lost their last five matches and conceding 170 points in those games—an average of 34 points per contest. Sitting 12th on the ladder with a 5-8 record, another loss could significantly diminish their chances of securing a top-four finish and a place in the finals.

Tallis, a former Brisbane stalwart and current Fox Sports analyst, suggested that the Broncos’ playmakers, notably Reynolds and Ben Hunt, are past their prime. Hunt, who will turn 37 in March, and Reynolds, approaching 36, have struggled to deliver consistent form amid a spate of injuries and ongoing physical setbacks. Tallis argued that the team needs to shift focus toward its younger talent, especially fullback Reece Walsh and incoming rookie halfback Jonah Pezet, who is set to join from the Parramatta Eels next season.

“This has been an old story for a while,” Tallis said. “They look old. The halves don’t look sharp, and it’s time to give Reece the team. He won them the competition last year and deserves to be the main man moving forward.” He also referenced the Broncos’ unexpected 30-24 loss to Hull KR in the World Club Challenge back in February as a turning point that undermined the team’s momentum.

Reynolds responded to the criticism by defending his commitment to the team and vowing to prove his critics wrong. Despite battling rib and shoulder injuries that have required pain management, the two-time premiership winner insisted he still has much to offer on the field.

“I suppose my form has been all right,” Reynolds said, adding that the support of his teammates matters most. “As long as I’m doing my job for the football team, I feel all right. There’s always going to be criticism, but we’ll stick together and work through it.”

Reynolds acknowledged the frustration felt by fans and players alike as the Broncos have struggled to maintain consistent performance. “We want wins, not losses,” he said. “We’re working hard behind the scenes to change all of that. We’re not dead and buried yet—we’ll continue fighting.”

The upcoming match against South Sydney is viewed as a critical juncture for the Broncos, with hopes that they can halt their slide and reinvigorate their campaign heading into the latter stages of the National Rugby League season.