Brisbane forward Sam Thaiday ready for fight up the middle against North Queensland

SAM Thaiday says the Broncos forwards are braced to stop the roll of North Queensland’s big boppers in Saturday’s sudden-death final.

Sam Thaiday of Brisbane is held back by Josh McGuire during the NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and the North Queensland Cowboys. Pic Darren England.

SAM Thaiday says the Broncos forwards are braced to stop the roll of North Queensland’s big boppers in Saturday’s sudden-death final.

Brisbane have struggled defensively in most of their games against finals teams this season and Thaiday has extra personal motivation to excel after suspension sidelined him from a loss to Melbourne last Friday.

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That 20-12 loss to the Storm was at least a better defensive result for the Broncos, who conceded 30 points to the Roosters, 28 and 42 to South Sydney, 27 to the Cowboys in their second clash, 35 to Penrith and 30 in their first loss to Melbourne.

The Cowboys have scored 20 points or more in each of their past 11 matches, averaging 28.5 points during that time to storm into fifth place with Johnathan Thurston causing damage behind his pack.

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“The keys to slowing that up with Matt Scott, Ashton Sims, James Tamou and Jason Taumalolo, stopping them from rolling up the field,’’ Thaiday said.

“It’s the big task for our forwards. We have shot ourselves in the foot a few times this year.

“Playing the Cowboys in Townsville, they are a team on fire at the moment.

“We also talked about after the Melbourne game probably only two key areas. One was on the fifth tackle they scored a try from a kick and then just not putting the finish on our sets — a couple of times we didn’t get a kick away.

“Apart from that, we were right in that game.’’

Sam Thaiday and Justin Hodges at training.

Since his return in Round 21 from a facial fracture, Matt Scott has eaten up the ground with ball under his arm, averaging of 186m per game.

“The break probably helped freshen him up,’’ Thaiday said.

“Coming back from Origin is always a tough period. You come back busted and sore.’’

Broncos prop Josh McGuire said: “Games are won on defence and there have been games this year where we are conceding too many points.

“Against the better teams we need to keep our ruck tight and not worry so much about scoring points but stopping them.’’

Sam Thaiday fires up against the Cowboys.

Thaiday, who grew up in Townsville but was unwanted by the Cowboys, said he regarded that snub as “old news’’ and has more recent motivation to play well after his crusher tackle suspension from Round 25.

“I’m fresh. I didn’t have to make 30 tackles or any hitsup last week and my body is ready to ,’’ he said.

“I’ll be playing to the best of my ability to repay the boys for their effort last week.

“I’m grateful I have an opportunity to put the Broncos jersey on again and play in another finals series.’’

Thaiday said he spent a very long weekend awaiting the results for the Eels and Warriors which decided whether the Broncos qualified for the finals on points-for-against.

“We had a bit of luck which hasn’t always gone our way,’’ he said.

“The boys were bouncing around in the gum on Monday morning and still buzzing at training afterwards.’’