Brisbane's latest NRL humiliation appears to be final straw for the struggling club with coach Kevin Walters promising an overhaul of his roster.
The Broncos were thrashed 46-0 by South Sydney at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday, with news breaking during the game that backrower Tevita Pangai Jnr would be free to speak to rival clubs.
After the game, the club confirmed Pangai Jnr, who is contracted until the end of 2022, was free to go with Wests Tigers understood to be keen on snapping up the 25-year-old.
Having watched his team slump to a fourth straight defeat and extend a woeful defensive record which has now leaked 482 points in 15 matches, Walters said the decision to let Pangai Jnr leave is just the start.
"We need to restructure our whole football club," Walters said.
"No real reason why Tevita. We've got to restructure our roster. That's what we have to do.
"There'll be more decisions to come as well, because clearly we're not in a good place at the moment, and things need to change."
Pangai Jnr's heartbreak was obvious when he was interviewed after the game about his future.
"They got me in on my day off and told me that I'm free to look elsewhere," he told the Nine Network.
"Players have got to be held accountable for the results that we're tossing up. If that's me, then I have to look elsewhere."
Thursday's thrashing came at a cost on the field as well with NSW Origin star Payne Haas facing a nervous wait after being placed on report twice during the game.
The Broncos prop was placed on report in the first half for a high tackle on Blues' teammate Cameron Murray but it's a second charge which may lead to Haas missing Origin II in Brisbane on June 27.
Haas was placed on report for a crusher tackle on Rabbitohs prop Mark Nicholls in the same tackle which led to Broncos interchange forward John Asiata being taken off on a stretcher following a clash of heads.
Under NRL guidelines, the base penalty for a grade one crusher tackle is 200 points, meaning if Haas is charged the only way he'd be free to play for the Blues would be to fight the charge successfully.
As well as Asiata, the hosts lost outside backs Jesse Arthars and youngster Selwyn Cobbo in the first half to head knocks while Pangai Jnr was also placed on report for a crusher tackle on Murray in the first half.
The Rabbitohs, who welcomed back Origin quartet Dane Gagai, Jai Arrow, Damien Cook and Murray, are now up to third with Wayne Bennett thrilled by his team's response to recent thrashings at the hands of Melbourne and Penrith.
"It was a real reality check for us, taught us a couple of good lessons and we've got another 10 weeks in front of us now to get our game really tuned up and give ourselves a chance of beating the big teams," Bennett said.
The win, Souths' biggest against the Broncos, marked Bennett's 200th game as coach at Suncorp Stadium.
Despite his long association with the Broncos, the veteran coach wasn't about to offer advice on what needs to change at his former club.
"You haven't got enough time for me to tell you, so move on."
Australian Associated Press