Gordie’s set of six: The shock Brisbane needed before finals

GORDEN TALLIS: The Parramatta Eels have given the Broncos a big wake-up call before the NRL finals.

Brisbane’s Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford after losing to the Parramatta Eels. Picture: AAP

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1 THE Broncos have been given a massive wake-up call this week.

Their loss to Parramatta was a surprise. But perhaps it was a shock they needed ahead of the finals. Scoring 34 points shows their attack is fine.

Of course there’s an argument that Parramatta took their foot off Brisbane’s throat, but I still believe they’re heading in the right direction attack-wise. It’s their defence that fell apart.

Nathan Brown is wrapped up by the Brisbane defence. Picture: Getty Images

Wayne Bennett has always been a defensive coach.

No matter what team he’s been in charge of, that’s what he has coached and that is what he will need to fix ahead of the finals.

Defence is an attitude and no side in the history of the NRL has won the premiership after conceding 50 points in a match during the season.

2 I HAVE to give the Titans and the NSWRL credit for making some tough decisions.

I know the axings of Neil Henry and Laurie Daley have upset people but sometimes those calls have to be made.

We’re not there when they make those choices and we don’t have all the information.

We just hear bits and pieces from the coaches trying to save their jobs and the disgruntled players and the CEOs. But until you have seen everything that came across the desk, you shouldn’t judge.

3 WHEN Henry was sacked, a lot of people were labelling the Titans as a club that no coach would want to go to.

But nearly every available coach has put their hand up for the job.

Kevin Walters, Geoff Toovey, the Walker brothers – they’re all in the mix and all capable of doing the job.

Former Titans coach Neil Henry. Picture. Phil Hillyard

When you look at clubs that had to rebuild, they are often teams that no one wants to touch.

But Nathan Brown, for one example, has done an amazing job for the Knights after Bennett walked away and no one else wanted them.

It shows another coach can do the same for the Coast.

4 EVEN though I applaud the NSWRL for making a tough decision, it’s fair to say Daley did a great job for NSW.

He delivered their only series win from the past 12 years. If there is a more passionate New South Welshman out there, I’m yet to meet him.

Former Blues coach Laurie Daley. Picture: AAP

They are going to be big shoes to fill. I’m not too sure what’s next for Laurie but he should be congratulated for what he did with the Blues, regardless of what’s happened now.

5 IF YOU are a true rugby league fan, then you should be as proud of the Cowboys now as you would have been in the past when they were premiers.

When that game against the Tigers was on the line on Friday, you could have understood if they gave up.

Cowboy Coen Hess bends the line against the Tigers. Picture: Brett Costello

To have the troops that are out but to still be in great form and having a crack, it’s amazing. I just think that plenty of sides would have given up by now.

But not the Cowboys. It shows how much ticker they have and what a good job everyone is doing up there.

6 AS WE begin to count down to the finals, I have to say I am slightly more excited at the moment by the Floyd Mayweather Jr and Conor McGregor fight.

I won’t be able to watch it as I will be out at Penrith, but I have no doubt it will live up to the hype.

I’ve been caught up in all the drama of it and have been watching every moment play out. I can’t wait to see how it all ends.

Originally published as Gordie’s set of six: The shock Brisbane needed before finals