Why the high-flying Broncos are the most dangerous team in the finals
Fresh off his game-winning field goal which all but secured Brisbane’s passage to the finals, Jamayne Isaako has declared the Broncos can take down anyone they face in the playoffs.
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Brisbane golden-point hero Jamayne Isaako is adamant the Broncos can be a finals giant-killer if they clinch a playoffs berth by disposing of the Bulldogs this Saturday night at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.
‘Iceman’ Isaako underlined his cool-headed composure with the crucial extra-time field goal which sank the Eels 17-16 on Friday night, leaving the Broncos with just one hurdle to clear in their final-round clash with Canterbury.
Brisbane will seal a finals berth if the Dragons beat the Tigers today, but the Broncos could finish as high as seventh if they beat the Bulldogs and Cronulla lose one of their final two games against Canberra and Wests Tigers.
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Isaako was a member of the Brisbane team which crashed out of last year’s finals in the opening week with a 48-18 horror show against the Dragons, but he believes the class of 2019 can pull off some big scalps.
“We didn’t do too well against the Dragons last year, we got pumped at home,” he said.
“We definitely want to have a good finals run this year.
“We have a job to do on the Bulldogs first, so hopefully we can touch them up and that sets up a good run in the finals.”
Isaako’s trusty boot buried the Eels. While his extra-time one-pointer was decisive, it was his first attempt 39 seconds from full-time which left viewers in awe.
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From 45 metres out, Isaako thumped the ball so sweetly it would have sailed 60 metres, only to cannon into the left upright in a heartbreaking near miss which sent the match hurtling to golden point.
“I was already celebrating that first field goal and it just hit the left upright,” Isaako said with a laugh.
“With the first attempt, I wasn’t too sure if I was going to kick it, I was thinking about dummying and running, but I hit it sweetly and I was a bit unlucky it didn’t go through.
“I was happy enough to get the second one.
“I practise those kicks at training - it’s no different to training where you practise those exact scenarios.
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“I’m glad it paid off in the end and I was able to get the boys home with a field goal.”
Broncos skipper Darius Boyd said Isaako’s knack of kicking pressure goals was no fluke, paying tribute to his dedication.
“Jamayne practises all the time,” he said. “He comes in on his days off and practises both field goals and goalkicking.
“When you do the extra work, you get the results.”
Broncos coach Anthony Seibold challenged the squad not to be complacent against a Bulldogs side that has finished the season strongly.
“The job is not done yet,” he said. “I won’t be satisfied until that job is done and I know we are in the finals.
“The Bulldogs will be tough. Thy have won six of their last nine and they were really gritty the other night (in a 15-8 loss to the Cowboys), so we have a big job.”
Originally published as Why the high-flying Broncos are the most dangerous team in the finals