Broncos must earn right to play Anthony Seibold’s style of football, writes Darren Lockyer

For the Broncos to be a top-four side, let alone a premiership team, they need to develop a harder edge and the self-discipline to turn the screws on their opposition, writes Darren Lockyer.

Brisbane must muscle up in the middle in order to play Anthony Seibold’s expansive brand of football. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

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For the Broncos to be a top-four side, let alone a premiership team, they need to develop a harder edge and the self-discipline to turn the screws on their opposition.

Brisbane’s heart-stopping one-point loss to the Dragons on Thursday night was a key insight into the mental constitution of a Broncos side that is not lacking in talent, but must hone the emotional intelligence to grind out a victory.

If there is an example the Broncos could follow, it will arrive this Thursday, when they run onto the SCG turf for a showdown with reigning premiers the Roosters.

Brisbane must muscle up in the middle in order to play Anthony Seibold’s expansive brand of football. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

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Many pundits tipped the Broncos to make the top four this season and while I am certainly not discounting that possibility, Anthony Seibold’s troops must understand how the process and one per cent efforts in games lead to sustained performance.

The top-four teams and premiership powerhouses don’t consistently make fundamental errors. Melbourne and the Roosters back their processes and hold their nerve.

They don’t beat themselves.

The Broncos need to understand that while they want to play expansive football under coach Seibold’s game model – which is a fair mentality given the quality of their backline – they need to earn the right for enterprise.

Brisbane made a host of errors on Thursday night. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

The quality of attack is contingent upon the resolve of your defence and the Broncos lacked energy in the midfield against the Dragons.

Brisbane can’t make 14 errors, many of them unforced, and miss 41 tackles, which triggers fatigue, and expect their defence to hold up as a springboard to building momentum in attack.

The performance of Tevita Pangai Jr over the past fortnight is an apt snapshot of Brisbane’s mental state at the moment.

Tevita was magnificent against the Cowboys but six days later, under pressure and fatigue he made a couple of errors, one which led to Korbin Sims’ 62nd-minute bargeover which gave the Red V impetus for victory.

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Pangai Jr played 70 minutes on Thursday night, 26 more than he did against the Cowboys, so he deserves credit for his industry, but like the Broncos he needs to make smarter decisions in clutch moments.

It is easy to place the blame at the feet of Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima for the 25-24 defeat, but I can’t be too critical of Brisbane’s halves.

I believe both Anthony and Kodi’s kicking games are improving. Kodi was dangerous at times with the footy against the Dragons and Milford’s tactical kicking, which included a grubber for Alex Glenn’s try, was outstanding.

Anthony and Kodi’s natural game is not to organise the team, they like to play what is in front of them and there is an element of risk in the way they play the game. But it has to be calculated risk supported by a dominant forward pack.

If the Broncos can’t generate momentum in the middle third, the attacking shapes driven by Nikorima and Milford will look clunky without a strong platform.

Matt Lodge’s return this week will give the Broncos some presence against the Roosters, but it’s their brain, not just their brawn, that will determine Brisbane’s fate this season.

Originally published as Broncos must earn right to play Anthony Seibold’s style of football, writes Darren Lockyer