THEIR season is just 80 minutes old but Matty Johns is already prepared to rule the Broncos out of finals contention and believes losing Ashley Taylor is to blame.

With starting halves Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima under the microscope before a ball had been kicked, the Broncos were dealt the cruellest of ironies on Thursday night when their former No.7 Ben Hunt engineered St George Illawarra’s stunning 34-12 win at UOW Jubilee Oval.

As Hunt and Gareth Widdop gave the Red V faithful cause for optimism in 2018 it was a sorry sight on the other side of the field as Milford and Nikorima failed to fire, Brisbane’s only tries coming courtesy of the speed of centre James Roberts on the right-hand side.

Round 20

Both teams were guilty of a mountain of errors in the opening 40 minutes and while the Dragons rectified their issues to score four second half tries there were only small signs of life in the Brisbane attack, and it’s got Johns concerned.

“They were awful,” was Johns’ blunt assessment in the immediate aftermath.

“It’s been a tough week for the Broncos and it is only round one but they really struggle in the creative positions.

“They don’t have a dominant half.

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“The missing of Ash Taylor is disastrous for that club because Milford’s a runner and Nikorima is a clever player, he’s a skilful player, but he’s not a dominant half.

“I’m sorry but from what they showed tonight I just can’t see them getting near the eight.

“I know it’s only round one but I look at the creative positions and I just don’t see the players there.”

Anthony Milford struggled to breach the Dragons defensive line all night. Photo: Matt King Source: Getty Images

Taylor was released a year early from his contract with the Broncos so that he could pursue an opportunity to play first grade with the Titans in 2016 but 12 months later Hunt had announced his intention to leave Red Hill to join the Dragons on a multimillion-dollar deal.

Gold Coast were able to ward off an approach by the Broncos to extend Taylor’s contract for a further three seasons at the end of last year and Johns believes that spells trouble for the immediate prospects of the Broncos.

“Every great side has a great No.7, a seven or a six that can own the contest and for mine the Broncos haven’t got that,” said Johns, a premiership winner with the Knights in 2001.

“I’m looking at the Broncos and I say, where’s the star power? Jack Bird didn’t play tonight and Darius Boyd is at the back but who is their Thurston? Who is their Cameron Smith? Who’s going to make it happen?

“I watched their attack and there was no variation in their attack from the beginning to the end. It was the same shape all the time.”

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