The Brisbane Broncos are poised to extend their winning streak to six games, with centre Kotoni Staggs embracing his fiery partnership with fullback Reece Walsh. The duo’s chemistry has elevated the team’s performance over the past month, despite a heated exchange during their last match—a 26-14 victory against the Gold Coast Titans.
During that game, Staggs dropped a pass from Walsh in the first half, leading to a verbal confrontation. However, the pair quickly reconciled. After halftime, Walsh delivered a precise pass, allowing Staggs to break free and score, showcasing the synergy they aim to replicate in their upcoming match against the Parramatta Eels at Lang Park on Friday night.
Staggs downplayed the tension with Walsh, emphasizing the importance of his teammate’s competitive spirit. “Walshy is someone I love playing with. He is a competitor and he doesn’t like losing,” Staggs said with a smile. “So, when things don’t go his way he does blow up a bit. We’ve just got to calm him down at times.”
The passion exhibited by both players is highly esteemed among their teammates. Staggs highlighted their long-range try against the Titans as a testament to their pursuit of excellence and maturity following their earlier verbal exchange. “You’ve got to be in the right position at the right time, which I was. I put a bit of footwork on and he was pushing up through the middle as a good fullback does and got the try for us,” he noted.
Brisbane has significantly improved its standings, climbing to fifth position after previously falling to 11th with five consecutive losses. Staggs remarked that external criticism does not reflect the team’s internal dynamics. “I just think we have gotten closer,” he stated. “We are all buying into what is going on at training and we have shifted some things around as well.”
He expressed confidence in the team’s potential to contend for the premiership title. “We do have the team to win the premiership. We just have to believe in one another and keep turning up for one another. We have strike players on the field and we have just got to get the ball in their hands.”
Staggs, who recently re-signed with the Broncos until the end of 2028, is currently performing at a career-best level. “I am a leader at this club and want to put my best foot forward every game. If I am doing my role and playing my best footy, the boys jump on the back of me,” he said, underscoring his commitment to the team’s success.
As the Broncos prepare for their clash with the Eels, the focus remains on maintaining momentum and harnessing the dynamic energy between Staggs and Walsh to drive their performance forward. The upcoming match will test their resolve and showcase their growth as a formidable unit in the league.
