Brisbane led 16-0 after 25 minutes from there the Gold Coast ran in 28 points before the Broncos scored one late.
It was the same story as last season for the Broncos. When they were given opportunities they took them but when the game came down to an arm wrestle they surrendered far too easily.
The game swung when Carrigan and Flegler came off the field for Kennedy and Riki. Both replacement forwards were found wanting in the ruck and the Gold Coast slowly but surely got the upper hand on the Broncos.
When the Broncos found themselves on the back-foot, they couldn't rely on their kicking game to bail them out and their attack was easily contained. The loss of Jack Bird mid-way through the first half was a contributing factor and while it would be generous to say Bird 'starred' he was certainly more solid than Jamayne Isaako.
Maligned former captain Darius Boyd had a night to forget. Boyd was barely sighted in the first half except for one play where he failed to get a hand on his opposite Watkins who sent Don over to score. His second half wasn't much better, dropping a ball on play one as the Broncos tried to get themselves back into the game.
It wasn't all doom and gloom for the Broncos. Brodie Croft was instrumental in the 16-0 lead and Patrick Carrigan was head and shoulders their best player.
It rounds out a disappointing season for the Broncos. They didn't escape the pool stages of the NRL Nines and suffered losses to North Queensland, the Gold Coast and Wynnum. Their one victory was against QRL lightweights CQ Capras.
After the 58-0 demolition at Bankwest, the Broncos have done little to give us fans any confidence heading into 2020.
