Broncos must be prepared for a high intensity, big-hitting game from the Dragons
IF the opening game of this year’s finals series was anything to go by, then the Broncos forwards better buckle up for one hell of a ride against the Dragons, writes GORDEN TALLIS.
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IF the opening game of this year’s finals series was anything to go by, then the Broncos forwards better buckle up for one hell of a ride.
I reckon it is going to be one hell of a race to the premiership.
The Melbourne and South Sydney game on Friday night really set the standard.
It was a high-intensity clash, with bruising collisions and a never ending battle through the middle.
I expect the same when the Broncos and Dragons come face-to-face at Suncorp Stadium.
Brisbane are expected to walk away with the win and for me, it was the only game of the weekend I could tip with any confidence.
But, if Brisbane get the victory, they have to be prepared that every game to grand final day will be just as brutal as the last.
Every year we say the finals is a new competition.
But judging off Friday night, it’s going to be one of the toughest competitions yet.
Get the ice packs ready boys.
It is going to be about the survival of the fittest.
There is no doubt Brisbane’s forward pack have shown plenty this year to suggest they are up for the challenge of four weeks of hard-hitting action.
Coach Wayne Bennett praised them earlier this year, claiming they were the best young group of forwards he had seen come through Brisbane’s ranks at one time.
It’s very hard to argue with that.
And while I agree they have been outstanding so far this year, this is going to be the real test of how far they have come.
Do they have the mental toughness to go to that next level for four weeks?
You look at their forwards this year and there have been a lot of standouts.
For me, Tevita Pangai Jr has been one of their best while Joe Ofahengaue has also been impressive and Matt Lodge has become better with each game.
Of course there’s Josh McGuire who is the most consistent forward week in and week out for the Broncos and that’s a bloody hard job to do.
And then there is Sam Thaiday, whose last ever NRL game could come at any moment.
For me, Sam is the barometer of the Broncos pack.
He’s not getting a lot of time on the field at the moment, but the time he plays has to be really high quality.
Sam gives his younger teammates confidence. You can see it.
If he’s playing with energy, so will the team.
He has to play with a truckload of energy and enthusiasm over the next few weeks. But overall, it’s not about any individuals.
Forwards logistically have the most simple job on the field. But it’s actually the hardest job to do and to do well.
What Friday night showed was that it’s going to take a pack effort to get a finals win.
The game has gone away from being about individuals.
It has to be everybody putting in, everyone working hard for that win.
Individuals will naturally shine, they always have and always will.
But they can’t do without that support and that is what I expect to see from the Broncos.
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Originally published as Broncos must be prepared for a high intensity, big-hitting game from the Dragons