Premiers in freefall: Broncos suffer another humiliation as hellish two months loom

This is not the same Brisbane Broncos who conquered a miracle en route to last year’s premiership. This is a premiership-winning outfit devoid of confidence, struggling for rhythm, and reeling from two humiliating defeats ahead of what will be a hellish two months.

Not even donning their popular all-black kit in support of the Black Dog Institute could ignite the spluttering premiers against the 16th-placed Gold Coast Titans as it did in 2025, as a moment of utter magic from Keano Kini inflicted a fifth-straight defeat on the defending champions 28-23.

It appeared Brisbane had done just enough to arrest their losing run, with an Adam Reynolds field goal giving them the lead. But the Titans fullback had other ideas, chipping for himself and regathering bravely as Reece Walsh charged for the ball to seal a remarkable win.

“Special players do special things. We love that young lad because he might drop a ball early, but it doesn’t stop him,” Titans coach Josh Hannay said.

“He doesn’t pull out of the game, he just keeps going after the contest, and he went after it right until the end and came up with a special play. He’s a special young player.”

This latest Broncos capitulation follows their shock loss to the cellar-dwelling Dragons last week, to leave their title defence in freefall after squandering an early 12-0 lead.

There were promising signs early, as edge forward Brendan Piakura turned hitman on Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, before scoring the first try of the night after his side fell short on several other raids.

The benched Ezra Mam was injected early for a 15-minute stint after Tom Duffy was sent for an HIA, and his scything run shortly after the kick-off triggered a try for Kotoni Staggs.

But from there, the wheels did not just fall off; they exploded.

A Jack Gosiewski error on his own line gifted a try to Kurtis Morrin, before Phil Sami shrugged off an appalling tackle attempt from Ben Hunt and put on the afterburners to evade Reece Walsh – who battled a corked quad – to score himself.

Some razzle-dazzle coming out of half-time then earned Jayden Campbell a double – the first courtesy of his support play on an AJ Brimson linebreak, and second after fending off several defenders to weave his way to the line.

A mistake from Titans forward Klese Haas opened the door for a Broncos fightback, with Jesse Arthars quick to cross in the corner and a miracle Piakura offload for Grant Anderson levelling the clash. Reynolds’ field goal was then quickly forgotten courtesy of Kini’s heroics.

Brisbane had one last chance after Reece Walsh put Josiah Karapa