The Mole exclusive; Brisbane Broncos; Reece Walsh switch

Thursday night may not prove to be just a turning point for the Broncos - but more importantly for their brilliant fullback Reece Walsh.

While the Broncos had gone a record eight games without a win, Walsh’s slump was even more alarming - his last victory was 103 days earlier on April 4.

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Walsh celebrated his 100th game with a victory in round five against the Titans - and it’s been all downhill with defeats, injuries and form slumps ever since.

Coach Michael Maguire decided on a make-or-break change in the crucial clash with the Panthers, moving Walsh to first receiver.

It could have ended in tears, but the classy fullback rose to the occasion, setting up all three tries in the 14-12 win over the premiership favourites that keeps the Broncos’ slim finals hopes alive.

Foran snaps back to reality

Three of the NRL’s least experienced coaches are realising the pointy end of a long season can prove a nightmare in 2026.

Kieran Foran, Benji Marshall and Dean Young have all had their ups and downs this year but are finding the pressure games particularly taxing.

Foran’s Sea Eagles and Marshall’s Tigers have both hit the wall after looking good things for finals footy just weeks ago.

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Young has improved the Dragons somewhat - but they are still finding wins elusive as the race for finals footy heats up and will end the year as wooden spooners.

Did Manly pull the trigger too soon in handing the coaching job to Foran long-term?

Foran came in as caretaker coach following the sacking of Anthony Seibold just three rounds into the new season and did a great job turning the club around.

At the halfway mark of the season, the Sea Eagles looked great things for the finals but suddenly have hit the wall, losing four of their past five games including Sunday’s 38-32 defeat to the lowly Titans.

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Making matters worse, star fullback Tom Trbojevic suffered yet another hamstring injury and may struggle to play again this year.

The Sea Eagles have a couple of capable replacements in Lehi Hopoate and Tolu Koula but will need to assess Turbo’s future at season’s end.

The Sea Eagles can still dig themselves out of trouble and make the finals - but will need to get that winning feeling again very soon to do it.

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Tino Fa’asuamaleaui was superb for the Titans, who have now moved three wins clear of the Dragons at the bottom of the ladder.

New low for the Tigers

Disappointment and being a Wests Tigers fan go hand in hand these days … but 2026 may go down as the Tigers’ saddest season in the past 20 years.

Having won five of their first seven games, the Tigers look set to finally bring back the good times … until they didn’t.

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It all went wrong from the day the club’s spiritual leader Jarome Luai jumped off ship, taking a massive chunk of tax-free PNG dollars to be the new club’s first signing.

The Tigers have won a paltry two of 11 games since that dark day and recorded their fifth straight loss on Saturday night, a 32-0 thumping from the Bulldogs.

Benji Marshall doesn’t have the knowledge or experience to set things right and the Tigers are set for another dismal finish to the season.

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Discipline has gone out the window - Alex Twal’s dual brain snaps late in the game are clear evidence of that - and sections of the Tigers crowd even booed Luai out of frustration.

The Dogs, meanwhile, are right back in the finals hunt, just two points out of eighth spot and back playing the exciting brand of football they showed early last season.

Major Bunnies flaw Wayne must fix

Wayne Bennett needs to get Souths′ psychological dislike of playing away from home out of the players’ systems in a hurry before they blow a finals berth.

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The Bunnies have lost six of their last seven games away from Accor Stadium, the latest a 34-24 defeat to Canberra in the national capital on Saturday afternoon.

After looking in a great position a month ago, the Bunnies are sinking fast. They’ve lost two of their last three games and consistency and discipline seem to have deserted them at this vital stage of the season.

Conversely, the Raiders are suddenly back in the finals hunt - five out of six wins in the run home could see them squeeze into the finals.

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But they will have to do it without star back-rower Hudson Young, who tragically tore his Achilles midway through the game.

What Storm have lost in rare season

The Storm aren’t just losing football matches - they are also losing their aura and fear factor as a finals berth slips away.

Craig Bellamy’s men have had ‘the wood’ on the Roosters in recent years, winning 13 of the last 15 games between the teams.

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But the Roosters clearly didn’t fear the Storm on Friday night, always looking likely winners in a scrappy affair played in tough conditions.

With much-improved prop Naufahu Whyte leading the charge, the Roosters played the better football and all but ended the Storm’s hopes of a late run to the finals.

The Storm will now have to win virtually every game to qualify, and losing star winger Will Warbrick (Achilles) for the season only adds to their woes.

How Knights can surge towards contention

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Newcastle need to find a way to turn close losses into close wins to stay alive in the battle for the 2026 premiership.

For the third time in six weeks, the Knights were beaten by two points by Cronulla at a wet and windy Shark Park on Friday night … and this one hurt most of all.

Newcastle had the better completion rate, less missed tackles, less errors, more tries ... yet still found a way to lose, with Ponga’s goal kicking - albeit several hard shots - costing them dearly.

The Sharks are one of the form sides of the NRL and to more than match them at home for much of the contest was a mighty effort by the Knights - but those little one-percenters are costing them and greater attention to detail is needed in the pressure games.

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