The Broncos and Eels were both smashed in round one, and deserved everything they got.

Brisbane’s ball control was diabolical in humid, slippery conditions against Penrith and their 61 per cent completion rate meant they ended up with only 42 per cent of possession.

Parramatta’s numbers in their thrashing by Melbourne were almost identical – they completed just 63 per cent of their sets and finished with 41 per cent of possession.

“Fatigue makes cowards of us all” is one of great American football coach Vince Lombardi’s most famous quotes (he borrowed it from US army general George S Patton), and it fits the two underwhelming round one performances perfectly.

Neither team built its game at all, and didn’t apply any pressure or create any fatigue in their opposition. Instead, they buckled.

The weight of extra defence – all self-inflicted – piled up, attempts to slow down the ruck resulted in six agains, those six agains turned into more six agains, and by full-time, Brisbane and Parramatta lost by a combined 78-4 margin.

So this week at Suncorp again, only one number matters, especially for Brisbane.

The Broncos need to complete nine of their first 10 sets: kick long, chase hard, tackle harder, copy and paste.

© The Age