Roosters skipper Jake Friend warns Brisbane’s forwards to expect fireworks

JAKE Friend has warned the Broncos to expect fireworks from the opening kick-off of Friday’s finals opener.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — JUNE 03: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves of the Roosters is tackled during the round 13 NRL match between the Sydney Roosters and the Brisbane Broncos at Allianz Stadium on June 3, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

ROOSTERS hooker Jake Friend has warned Brisbane to brace for “fireworks” from front-row enforcers Dylan Napa and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves in Friday night’s finals opener at Allianz Stadium.

Premiership-winning rake Friend believes the Roosters have the forward muscle to dominate a depleted Broncos pack missing injured duo Andrew McCullough and front-row firebrand Korbin Sims.

The Broncos and Roosters have waged some fierce forward battles, with Waerea-Hargreaves and Brisbane warhorse Sam Thaiday famously squaring off two years ago at Suncorp Stadium.

Waerea-Hargreaves always fires up when he plays Brisbane.

Now the duo are set for another engine-room stoush, with forward Mr Fix it Thaiday, who has been having stints as hooker, pitchforked into a starting role at prop to cover for the loss of Sims.

Maroons hitman Napa and Waerea-Hargreaves are arguably the NRL’s most feared front-row alliance and Friend believes their aggression can break Brisbane’s spirit in midfield.

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“I think that’s definitely our strength,” Friend said.

“With guys like Dylan and Jared, that gives us firepower upfront.

“It (the forward showdown) will be the biggest area of the game. Whoever wins that battle is most likely going to win the game.

“They have some quality forwards but I’ll always back our guys, Jared has been running into his best form and Dylan was outstanding in this year’s Origin series.

“He was rested last week (in their final-round defeat of the Titans) with a few niggles but he’ll be fit and raring to go and there will be some fireworks this week no doubt.”

Broncos back-rower Alex Glenn lauded the Roosters pack but said Brisbane, led by Thaiday, would not be intimidated by Napa and Waerea-Hargreaves.

“I can predict those two (Thaiday and Waerea-Hargreaves) will be going head-to-head this week,” Glenn said.

“Those two going head-to-head, the fans love it. As players, we love it when we see them giving it to each other, it gives you goosebumps, that’s why we play the sport. We go out there for the big hits and aggressiveness in this game.

Dylan Napa is the cornerstone of a fearsome Roosters pack.

“The Roosters have an experienced pack. They know what wins games, they are big and versatile with the way they play.

“We’re not the biggest team, so we’ll try and tire them out as best we can. We have a plan in place. We have to make sure we are limiting their time and getting in their faces.”

Friend dismissed concerns over the Roosters’ form after requiring two late tries to avoid an embarrassing boilover against the Titans last week.

“We can go up another gear, we’re back in the finals where we want to be,” Friend said.

“The Titans stuck it to us and we weren’t on our game in the first 60 minutes. But to finish the last 20 well and get the win gives us confidence we can lift this week.”

Originally published as Roosters skipper Jake Friend warns Brisbane’s forwards to expect fireworks