Sports psychologist Phil Jauncey the secret weapon set to ignite Broncos

THE Broncos have gone for the doctor to spark their season, with Wayne Bennett recruiting a renowned sports psychologist to work with his players.

Coach Wayne Bennett during Brisbane Broncos training at Red Hill. Picture: Tara Croser

BRISBANE coach Wayne Bennett has enlisted the help of Australia’s top sports psychologist known as “Dr Phil” in a bid to kickstart the Broncos’ premiership campaign.

The Sunday Mail can reveal Queensland-based sports shrink Phil Jauncey was the secret weapon in Brisbane’s 32-8 thumping of the Roosters at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night.

With Brisbane searching for answers after a patchy start to the season, Bennett summoned Jauncey, who is regarded as Australia’s leading sports performance psychologist.

The Broncos coach has a long association with Jauncey, having used him intermittently during Brisbane’s golden age when they won six premierships in 14 years.

Jauncey has an unrivalled portfolio in Australian sport, previously working with AFL’s Brisbane Lions, the Queensland and Australian cricket teams and Australia’s Davis Cup tennis side.

The mental-skills expert was also a psychological ­consultant to the Queensland Academy of Sport, the Australian Institute of Sport and various Olympic sporting outfits.

Phil Jauncey is a leading sports psychologist. Picture: Justin Brierty

Now Jauncey is back to help the Broncos, meeting with the squad to work on their self-­belief and performance levels in the lead-up to the Roosters clash.

The tactic paid instant dividends, with Bennett admitting his players stopped “second-guessing themselves” as they attacked with renewed confidence to post their biggest win of the season.

“Phil Jauncey came in to see the guys and he had a good chat with the players,” Broncos assistant coach Jason Demetriou said.

“He recognised some of the guys’ personality traits and what works best for them.

“It was a good session for the players to think about each other and what makes them tick.

“I thought we played a bit tight against the Bulldogs (in their 10-7 loss the week before).

“We didn’t play any football at all and we were disappointed in that.

“We just wanted the guys to play with confidence, play what they see, and I’m really pleased we did that (against the Roosters).”

Coach Wayne Bennett during Brisbane Broncos training at Red Hill. Picture: Tara Croser

Bennett sees the benefits of sports psychology.

Last year, during Brisbane’s Origin slump, he summoned little-known Joe Wehbe, a performance coach with the New Zealand Rugby League.

Wehbe ran alongside Broncos players at training shouting pearls of wisdom such as “Trust the ball”.

He still works with several Sydney NRL stars, including Tigers trio James Tedesco, Mitchell Moses and Aaron Woods.

Former Broncos skipper Darren Lockyer worked with Jauncey at Red Hill and believes he will have a positive impact on the squad.

“Phil helps you with your approach to games and the way you process things,” Lockyer said.

“For me, Phil would say focus on the process, not the outcome.”