SPORTS writer Peter Badel (C-M, July 18) is right.

How many times does embarrassing failure on the field have to happen before pride, arrogance and self-interests (of the top guys) are identified as the primary factors needing to be removed from the performance equation?

Poor management, unqualified administrators and unsuitable decision-makers in the Broncos club are obviously combining to prove glaringly that the existing formula is badly out of whack.

The top guys have to go.

Unfortunately that presents the task of finding better-suited replacements (which may be a challenge in itself).

But what the Broncos are now is, in truth, nothing, so how could they be worse off?

Clearly successful businessmen don't necessarily make for good sports club administrators. And good footballers are effectively nothing on the field without skilled coaches and strong leadership.

Richard K. Tiainen, Holland Park West

THE Broncos have a massive injury toll with a full forward pack injured.

It just goes to show that those who are still fit and healthy are not up to standard.

A new coach? What difference will he make?

Some players are past their use-by date and yet if the coach drops them who would take their place?

Hopefully when all players are fit, maybe there will be a turnaround.

The amount of points scored against this team just goes to show that they are tackle shy, and the coach cannot tackle for them.

Maybe the number of points scored against should equal the number of times around the oval or sprints. Maybe that would wake some of them up.

Tony Miles, Chermside

DAVID Fifita trying to make a decision whether to change clubs is a difficult one.

He must decide if the Titans are in a better position to be in the top eight this year or his loyalty to the Broncos would be a chance for him to gain a good reputation and give him multiple choices in future and most likely a chance to win a premiership.

Although the Titans aren't performing any better they look more likely to achieve this at the moment.

The Broncos need a new coaching system because Anthony Seibold is failing dismally.

There is a need to bring in an experienced coach to steady the ship.

Ben Ikin has good qualifications to replace Paul White as CEO. David Fifita might then decide to remain at Red Hill.

If the Broncos are to save their reputation they need to sack the current coach.

Arthur Ellis, Ormiston

WITH the Broncos in free fall one has to question the theory that Anthony Seibold is the problem and should be sacked to remedy the situation.

My view is the situation is more complex in that there are a number of matters that have contributed to the current mess.

Firstly, the blow torch needs to be applied to both the current administration and a core of current players.

With regard to the acquisition and retention of players, the administration, and in particular the person overseeing the roster, appear to have a lot of questions that require answering for the decisions that have been implemented.

With regard to on-field personnel, there is a core of senior players who are collecting a pay cheque under false pretences by their lack of effort on the field combined with a distinct lack of mentoring for the younger players in the team.

Correct the problems highlighted and you will go a long way to solving the problems at Red Hill.

John Forrest, The Gap

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GET OVER DISMISSAL

CHRIS Blanch (Letters, July 18) is correct that the republic cause is not advanced by rehashing the 1975 dismissal of prime minister Gough Whitlam and attacking the Queen.

This is evidenced by the backlash, in particular, by republic-supporting Liberal Party federal MPs against Australian Republic Movement chair Peter FitzSimons for doing so.

In 1975, each of the key players, governor-general John Kerr, opposition leader Malcolm Fraser and prime minister Whitlam were at fault for various reasons.

Kerr for acting precipitously and in secrecy, Fraser for pushing too hard for a dismissal with an election looming in any case, and Whitlam for failing to tell the Senate, immediately after his dismissal that he was no longer PM, allowing supply to pass under caretaker PM Fraser.

Even though the Queen was in much communication with Kerr, she was too experienced and careful to be implicated in the dismissal.

So chasing imaginary rabbits down holes left by the events of 1975 is a fruitless exercise.

Instead the focus for the republic cause are the lessons learnt from the failed 1999 republic referendum.

The first lesson is to listen to Australians on what model for a republic they desire.

A plebiscite on the models before any further referendum can ensure that the next referendum presents a model that the people desire.

The Republic of Ireland is the exemplar of how direct election of a head of state might work in a Westminster system like ours.

David Muir, chair, Real Republic Australia, Indooroopilly

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People pass a COVID warning sign while exercising in Melbourne. Picture: David Crosling

DISCIPLINE NEEDED TO BEAT VIRUS

THERE would not be one person who is not sympathetic to the coronavirus situation in Victoria.

I see and hear the media conferences daily from different people in authority and frankly the messages are becoming boring, with the same passive rhetoric each day apart from the update to statistical figures of increases or reductions in the rate of infections and those who have passed away.

All leaders are singing the same song of advice and encouragement, but the one word that is missing in every dialogue is "discipline".

In many cases, on many issues in our lives, humans are their own worst enemy. That is the case right now.

People do listen to the message, but do they actually hear and understand the message?

Many apparently don't and think they are bulletproof.

Containment and eventual eradication will take significant time, with hopefully a vaccine to do the job, but in the meantime, everyone must commit to personal and collective discipline.

Our leaders really need to change their language a bit and be more demanding, requiring more discipline in our communities.

Les Bryant, Durack

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HOW TO CUT BORDER QUEUE

WHILE I confess to having no detailed knowledge of how border crossings into Queensland are managed it would seem simple enough to reduce the long lines and hours of wait time to have caravanners and visitors arrive at checkpoints between 10am and 3pm.

Outside of those hours should be reserved for local business traffic to ensure easier access to their destinations.

If you arrive before those timeframes, go to the back of the line.

Jeff Page, Woodhill

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CRUELTY LACKS DETERRENT

PRAISE be to columnist Kylie Lang (C-M, July 18) for highlighting a serious but neglected issue regarding abuse of animals.

Abuse occurs for a range of reasons none of which are acceptable in an ethically aware society.

As one who was an active animal welfare advocate for three decades, through the Queensland government's stakeholder collaboration process, I provided input into many pieces of Queensland legislation that were either under review or being newly developed, including Queensland's current Animal Care and Protection Act 2001. This act allows for a range of penalties for animal abuse in line with the expectations of the state's citizens.

Your columnist is correct in identifying the lack of action in assigning appropriate penalties allowable under this legislation as lying squarely with the magisterial legal system.

Penalties continue to be handed down based on long outdated precedents and it has been far too long since any magistrates had the guts to set new precedents.

This is why so little has changed and why so little works as a deterrent.

This must change not only for the sake of abused animals but for the sake of children who see abusive behaviour given a slap on the wrist.

Cynthia Burnett, Graceville

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Originally published as Broncos heads must be axed

Continued here:

YOUR SAY: Broncos heads must be axed - Daily Mercury