Broncos find form playing Bennett-ball, writes Gorden Tallis

The win over the Roosters was like the Broncos of old spurred on by a vocal home crowd that was baying for blood, and it was a style used by former coach Wayne Bennett, writes Gorden Tallis.

Brisbane beat the Roosters playing Bennett-ball, according to Gorden Tallis. (AAP Image/Darren England)

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Bennett-ball.

That’s how Brisbane beat the Roosters on Friday night.

After nine weeks of trying to play too pretty, they rolled up their sleeves and got gritty.

And they were rewarded with a really important win.

Wayne Bennett was an effort coach. He kept things simple. His critics used to say you could write his game plan on the back of a postage stamp.

Brisbane beat the Roosters playing Bennett-ball, according to Gorden Tallis. (AAP Image/Darren England)

And Brisbane appeared to strip their game plan right back against the Roosters.

It was like the Broncos of old spurred on by a vocal home crowd that was baying for blood.

Maybe Seibs found that postage stamp in a drawer in Wayne’s old desk.

It certainly seemed to suit the players better. They looked comfortable with it.

Brisbane ran hard, tackled hard, kicked well and took their opportunities.

Rugby league is a pretty simple game. You don’t have to perform surgery to fix a paper cut.

The Broncos approach reminded me of the tried and tested ‘four roll and kick’ with good field position and an aggressive attitude in defence combining beautifully.

Brisbane simplified their tactics in the win. (AAP Image/Darren England)

Matt Lodge and Payne Haas were outstanding upfront. That one-two punch from your front-rowers is as important as any combination in any team. Everything stems from the work they do.

In my early days at the Broncos I had Lazzo and Andrew Gee as the prop combo. Later on, it was Shane Webcke and Petero Civoniceva.

They set the tone early. They sent a message to the opposition that it was going to be a very long day for them. They also set an example for their teammates. You saw them do the hard yards up the middle and it inspired you to get stuck in as well.

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That’s what Lodge and Haas did against the Chooks.

I’m not putting them in the class of the past Broncos front-rowers just yet – those blokes all have multiple premiership rings.

But Lodge and Haas can be the players that Brisbane build their team around.

They hit them hard and hit them early. And they hit them often. Their workrate was sensational.

The Roosters didn’t pack the right attitude with them for the trip to Brisbane and they paid the price because Brisbane were all about attitude, effort and intensity.

The Roosters are going very well. They had won eight straight and will be right there when the whips are cracking but you could tell they didn’t have the same appetite for the contest as Brisbane did. Cooper Cronk was a good example of that.

On the back of the big boys rolling forward, Anthony Milford’s kicking game was excellent.

If he wasn’t finding the corners, he was hitting the grass. He also put up some towering bombs that created a contest in the air.

It was the perfect way to support his front-rowers.

It was simple but very effective.

It was Bennett-ball.