Broncos truth laid bare as Kevin Walters unleashes all-time spray after Dragons defeat

Brisbane coach Kevin Walters has ripped into his side after they fell to their sixth straight defeat at the hands of the Dragons on Saturday night. The Broncos began the encounter sluggishly and the Red V made them pay early, racing out to a 22-6 half-time lead.

After the break, Brisbane roared back to life but it was too late, coming up just short of an epic comeback, falling 30-26 at Suncorp Stadium. The loss sees the Broncos drop to 13th on the ladder and with just six points separating fifth and 15th, every win is crucial in the run into the finals.

The representative quartet of Selwyn Cobbo, Reece Walsh, Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan, did not play against the Dragons and that could have been used as an excuse for the disjointed performance. But Walters wasn't having a bar of it, unloading on his troops following the game, storming out of the dressing room after ripping the paint off the walls with his cutting words.

“He’s not happy because they’re losing, obviously,” Mal Meninga said as footage showed Walters pacing around the dressing room laying into his side before heading out the door. “I think it’s a footy thing. I think it’s something to do with their roster and a little about their execution."

Ex-Queensland centre Will Chambers said Walters had every right to be irate as it was a lethargic performance from a side that knows every game now is do-or-die. "If not everyone’s putting in, that’s when the frustration comes in," he said.

"They waited until the 60th minute to start having a dig. That’s why you feel for Kevvie. All he can do is prepare them, if the boys don’t want to turn up for him, that’s the hard part."

Walters had some time to process the defeat after storming out of the changerooms before he had to address the media. But by that time he still hadn't calmed down.

“The thing that annoys me … is that I know we’re so much better than what we’re doing,” Walters said. "I’m just disappointed that that’s what we throw up. And I’m disappointed in myself as a coach that that’s what is being presented consistently, that’s not good enough. And that rests on me."

Kevin Walters still believes Broncos can make NRL finals

The Broncos head to Newcastle next week knowing they must win six of their last seven matches to play finals. When asked about the big task ahead of them, Walters said: “I believe we can do that — but it’s up to these guys. "We can’t just keep doing what we’re doing, then we're no chance."

The six-game losing streak is telling for the Broncos, as no team has ever lost six in a row and then gone on to win the premiership. And only the 2006 Broncos and 2012 Storm have ever won the premiership after having a five-game losing streak.

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Kevin Walters faces dilemma with Origin stars for Knights clash

Brisbane's representative quartet could be required to back up in Newcastle three days after the Origin decider in Brisbane on Wednesday night as the NRL side has next to no room for error if they are to make finals. Walters elected not to play his game-two Origin representatives in a Saturday afternoon loss to the Warriors in Auckland following Game 2 as it would have required an international flight to another time zone.

But now the club's season is on the line it could be a different call entirely. However, Walters said he would not be rushed into a decision and will see how they pull up on Thursday before deciding if they will get on the bus to Newcastle.

"I will just see how the game goes on Wednesday night and then we will make a science decision based on facts and numbers ... and we will talk to the players," Walters said. "They will obviously all want to play but there is no good them playing, getting injured and then being gone for the year."