Brisbane's hopes of arresting their mid-season slide have taken another hit with second-rower Jordan Riki facing a two-match ban for his off-the-ball shot on Cameron Murray.
The Broncos suffered their third straight loss on Friday night, going down 22-12 to South Sydney, and Riki was on Saturday charged with grade-two dangerous contact.
With previous offences factored in, Riki will miss two games with an early guilty plea or risk a third if he fights the charge and loses.
His absence will come as a significant blow to the Broncos in crunch matches against the Warriors and Penrith.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters conceded after Friday night's match Riki was fortunate to only be sin-binned for his hit on the South Sydney captain.
"He was lucky to stay on the field," Walters said.
"Jordan was a bit off (in the loss). He will be the first one to admit that. We will have a discussion with him.
"His effort was was good. He just didn't have his head in the right space."
Potentially saving Riki from a longer ban was Murray's comment after the match that the shot got him in the chest and not the head.
Walters insists there is no need for panic as Brisbane hunt a top-four finish, despite the loss leaving them with plenty of work to do.
Last year's grand finalists are in a fight to keep pace with the league's top teams, and the return of star man Adam Reynolds from a bicep rupture is two months away.
Walters refused to blame his side's slump on the absence of Reynolds, or that the Broncos are have lacked the spark of dynamite fullback Reece Walsh in recent weeks.
Brisbane have a bye next week before a crucial fortnight against the Warriors and Penrith, where losses could spell the end of their top-four hopes for 2024.
But Walters remained adamant there was no need to be overly concerned with his side's poor run of results, or the fact they will end this weekend out of the top eight.
"I'm going to stay on the front foot and be positive," the Broncos coach said.
"We're not lacking in fitness. What's letting us down is our our skill level, which everyone would agree is of a very high level. We're just not doing the basics.
"I'm very confident. I've seen what these boys can do. It's just their attitudes. We're just not quite right at the moment.
"But we'll keep working on it. And when we get it right, you'll all know. You'll see it."
Latrell Mitchell was charged with contrary conduct for charging in to push Riki after the Murray hit, but can take a $3000 fine and be available for State of Origin II on June 26.
