Just nine days after Kevin Walters declared Brisbane would definitely play finals, the Broncos’ top-eight hopes are officially over.

Embarrassed by the Dolphins and handed their worst ever loss to a Queensland side on Saturday, Brisbane’s fate was sealed on Sunday when Newcastle beat Gold Coast.

It means that after Brisbane went just moments from a premiership last year before their grand-final capitulation to Penrith, the Broncos have self-destructed their way out of this year’s NRL finals.

Can the coach explain it?

“No I can’t. I will get to the bottom of it though,” Walters said.

Captain Adam Reynolds said “discipline was poor and we were poor with the ball”.

That explanation has been dished up for most of the season.

Brisbane appear a side without answers and have won just three games after Magic Round in a horrid fade-out for last year’s grand finalists.

The 40-6 loss to the Dolphins was one of their worst, with errors, poor discipline and a lack of connection and cohesion on show from start to finish.

Brisbane were without injured fullback Reece Walsh and No.6 Ezra Mam, but the Dolphins were missing six front-liners themselves.

Failing to make the finals is not acceptable for a club that has won six titles.

The Broncos did lose key starters Tom Flegler (prop) and Herbie Farnworth (centre) to the Dolphins at the end of last season, along with second-rower Kurt Capewell to the Warriors, but Penrith have also bid farewell to key players after each of their three grand final wins.

Due to their stellar history, expectations are high at Brisbane.

“There is pressure every week playing for the Broncos. Players have got to understand,” Walters said.

“That (performance) is not part of who we are as a club or as a team.”

It is not the first time the Broncos have played in a similar fashion in recent weeks, going down 41-16 to Canterbury and 46-18 against Gold Coast.

“It is not great,” Walters said.

It is hard to fathom how Brisbane will get better in 2025 without a change in attitude or possibly personnel.

The same players are making the same mistakes. Some, such as second-rower Jordan Riki who was awful against the Dolphins but outstanding in 2023, have gone backwards.

“We will look at (the roster) at the end of the year like every club does, but I don’t think that is the problem,” Walters said.

“We have got to learn as a club that this is a big club and you have got to play every week and come ready to play.”

The Broncos host competition leaders Melbourne on Thursday night and will get thrashed if they play in a similar fashion to the way they did in the Dolphins derby showdown.