Darius Boyd certain Broncos will win premiership by 2021
Brisbane captain Darius Boyd has thrown his absolute faith behind his squad with a bold claim for the future, while Anthony Seibold insists he’s only worried about the season at hand.
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Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold has challenged his side to prove their finals credentials as skipper Darius Boyd declared the club’s posse of young guns will deliver a Broncos premiership by 2021.
On the eve of Saturday’s derby against the Titans, Boyd hit out at suggestions the 11th-placed Broncos are a club in disarray, insisting Seibold’s youth policy this season will secure another title within two years.
But Seibold is more focused on the present, urging his troops to vindicate his belief that the Broncos have the talent to launch a late-season finals charge – starting on Saturday night against the last-placed Titans at Robina.
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The Broncos are one competition point outside the top eight and were dealt a blow on Friday when Queensland Origin forward Matt Gillett was ruled out with a fresh injury, this time to his lower back.
Seibold will finalise his side on Saturday but Tevita Pangai Jr is expected to move from lock to the right edge. Interchange prop Joe Ofahengaue is likely to be promoted into the midfield with 18th man Keenan Palasia set to join James Segeyaro, Rhys Kennedy and Pat Carrigan on the bench.
Asked if his side are a finals team, Seibold said: “Yes there’s no doubt about that – but the proof is in the pudding.
“We’re not looking ahead to the finals because if we do we go off task.
“But I know where we stand, we are one point outside the top eight and we’re close enough if we’re good enough.
“Our focus is on (Saturday night). If we look ahead to seven weeks’ time, you lose your focus and one thing that happens in the NRL, you get bitten on the backside if you don’t stay focused on your next job.
“It’s about actions during the game and that’s what I expect.”
Seibold has blooded a staggering 11 club debutants this year, including seven NRL first-gamers, and Boyd says sensations Payne Haas, Tom Flegler, Tom Dearden, David Fifita and Kotoni Staggs will inspire Brisbane’s seventh premiership.
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“Definitely, one hundred per cent,” said Boyd when asked if Brisbane would win a title within two years.
“That is why it is really good for the future of the club that we have signed a lot of these blokes.
“We probably should have won some games this year that we haven’t and that is really disappointing from our perspective but we are doing something special here.
“Sometimes you need 30, 40 or 50 games to really learn a few things in the NRL.
“If we can keep them all together it is a very special time for the club.”
Brisbane have dominated the M1 derby but Seibold is wary of a Titans ambush after their shock 26-18 upset of the Broncos in round 13 at Suncorp Stadium.
“The last time we played the Titans, they lapped us which was really disappointing,” he said.
“They jumped out of the blocks pretty well. We had a few guys missing with State of Origin duties, but they certainly came here with a job to do and they were far better than us on that occasion.
“Every time the Titans play the Broncos, it’s a big game. We are both in the south east of Queensland and I expect no different (tonight).”
Originally published as Darius Boyd certain Broncos will win premiership by 2021
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