Matt Gillett determined to join Broncos’ premiership-winning icons

NEARLY 200 first-grade games, 12 Tests for Australia and 18 Origin matches for Queensland. But yet to tick the NRL premiership box.

Matt Gillett is seen during Brisbane Broncos training at Purtell Park in Brisbane, Wednesday, February 21, 2018. The Broncos are travelling to Papua New Guinea to play a trial game against the PNG Hunters in Port Moresby on Saturday. (AAP Image/Darren England) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

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MATT Gillett says it’s time to break Brisbane’s premiership hoodoo, with the Origin back-rower admitting the Broncos haven’t played the “right football” to hold aloft the NRL trophy.

Gillett launches his 2018 campaign on Saturday when the Test forward, fresh from his role in Australia’s World Cup triumph last December, faces the PNG Hunters in Brisbane’s final trial in Port Moresby.

If anyone personifies the pain of Brisbane’s 12-year title drought, it is Gillett.

Entering his ninth NRL season, the 29-year-old has amassed 178 first-grade games, 12 Tests for Australia and 18 Origin matches for Queensland. But on the cusp of his 30th birthday, he has yet to tick the premiership box.

A whole generation of Broncos players, headlined by Gillett, Josh McGuire, Andrew McCullough and Alex Glenn, risk playing their entire careers without a premiership ring.

The reality is rammed home at the Broncos’ new $27 million training facility, which was officially opened on Friday.

There are images of the Broncos legends who helped deliver six premierships between 1992-2006. Gillett is determined to join the club’s premiership-winning icons.

“It’s everyone’s dream (to win a premiership) and that’s what we work so hard for in pre-season,” Gillett said.

Matt Gillett is is determined to join Brisbane’s premiership-winning icons.

“We look at it all the time (the premiership images at their new headquarters) and think how good would it be to see your face up there with the trophy you are involved in.

“That is motivation at the front of the club ... to have a good think about it.

“We are doing everything we can to nail it right.”

The Broncos fell at the penultimate hurdle last season, flogged 30-0 by eventual premiers Melbourne in the preliminary final.

For Gillett, it was a masterclass that spotlighted the gulf between the Melbourne machine and Brisbane’s periods of inconsistency.

“We want to win a comp but sometimes we aren’t playing the right football,” he said.

Matt Gillett and Darius Boyd react after the Broncos’ 2015 grand final defeat to the Cowboys.

“It’s been a while for the club but as a playing group we are doing the best we can.

“We have to start well this season and keep that confidence in the playing group. The grand final is in the back of mind. There’s quite a few steps to go before we get there but it would be a great thing for the club.

“It’s been a while since we’ve had a premiership ... we have a lot of work to do to get there.”

Matt Gillett is on track to play his 200th NRL game this season.

Gillett, who will chalk up his 200th game this season if he stays injury-free, is bracing for a bruising clash with Intrust Super Cup premiers the Hunters.

“I feel good,” he said.

“I finished in early December with the Australian team and I had some time away to freshen up and come back mid-January.

“This game will be tough. I have been to PNG a couple of times and it’s just crazy over there, thousands of people come from everywhere just to see you.”