Club great Darren Lockyer believes Brisbane can break the shackles with a polished win against Penrith on Friday night before giving the NRL finals a serious shake next month.
And the four-time premiership winning Bronco says his former halves partner Peter Wallace can play a pivotal role in guiding the club towards a seventh title.
Wallace has worn a lot of the criticism for Brisbane’s six-game losing streak but Lockyer said on Wednesday he felt a number of factors had contributed to Brisbane’s slide down the ladder.
“Halfway through the season Pete was one point off leading the Dally M voting after starting the season off great,” Lockyer told AAP.
“I think with Origin and having had fresh men like Corey Norman and Ben Hunt outside him it’s been a lot tougher for him than it looks.
“It’s not easy being a Bronco under that pressure but Pete is doing his best.”
Wallace may be slightly down on confidence but his work ethic and attitude can’t be questioned.
“I think people have probably underestimated the role Pete has had to play this year,” said Lockyer, who’s seen enough positives to believe Brisbane can still be a threat in the finals.
“They need a polished win on Friday night against Penrith,” he said.
“They’ve been close against those good teams. If they break through, which I think they will, it will be like the shackles have been released.
“All of a sudden the whole mood, confidence, attitude it all changes.
“To win the premiership they’re going to have win five games in a row which is achievable.
“It’s all about timing your run and your momentum into the grand final.”
Wallace said if there were serious flaws in Brisbane’s make-up Manly would have thrashed them last weekend, especially after coming off physically demanding games against Canterbury and Melbourne the previous two weeks.
“Manly could have easily had 30 points on us by half time the way they started if we hadn’t of shown so much resolve to hang tough together,” he said.
“They put together a red hot 15 minutes. They were going the length of the field in sets, getting 40-20s and repeat sets.
“To only concede 16 points and end up 16-6 down at the end I thought was pretty positive.
Brisbane haven’t banked a premiership point in six six weeks but Wallace says there’s still a winning feeling around the club.
“We haven’t got a win but our confidence isn’t shattered,” he said.
“We’ve taken a lot of confidence out of the last few weeks knowing we can match it with the three top teams in the comp.
“Those teams will be there when the whips are cracking, we’ve taken a lot of confidence out of the fact that we stuck it to them.”
Friday night’s game at Suncorp Stadium will be Petero Civoniceva’s last at home with fans allowed onto the field after the match as they were for Lockyer’s farewell last season.
The Broncos said 35,000 tickets have already been sold.
Roarsome
Guest
There's quite a few ex Broncos in the top 4. That's the problem. The Broncos spend millions on developing youth only to have the poaches offer a few thousand more than the Broncos can afford under the salary cap. If a club takes a risk signing a kid and developing him, the club should be rewarded by bigger cap concessions for that player while he is at the club. I know concessions already exit but it's a token approach. It needs to be increased. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
NF
Guest
Oikee can you handle the fact that the 2nd time in 21 seasons is plausible that the Broncos could miss the finals. Can Broncos supporter handle that or would it be too much for them if they 9th. Other teams have missed out on making finals for a while while the Broncos seem to be there every year but it seems lately it isn't the case anymore. Any team would love to have the consecutive finals run the Broncos have and I think Broncos supporters take it for granted and are spoiled as a result. What do you think oikee? Other team supporters went through the wilderness the Broncos haven't yet but when they do will they stay or will they go it will test the loyalty of the supporters considering they had everything given to them on a silver platter (6 premierships, countless minor premierships/finals,etc). Truly spoiled.
oikee
Guest
You know your club is in trouble when Capewell is getting a run. You might as well see if Alfie Langer wants a run. :)
oikee
Guest
I think the Broncos have problems, mate nothing compared to the Warriors. The caretaker coach has dropped the halves for this week. ?? Who in their right mind drops your halves. We have Wallace and Norman, but gee whiz i dont want them gone, dropped. I think Hunt is a good half, we need to buy another half and get a half decent fullback. The warriors need a real coach not these make beleive guys they have running the ship. No wonder they cant win anything. Plus they need to stop bringing so many juniors through. The team they have now will take 3 years to make a grand final. Too many juniors in the team. Tony Smith could be available. He is perfect for the warriors. I would sign him and pay him for 3 years, that way they cant sack him if he runs last next year.
josh
Guest
Not a chance. They can't pick a settled side. Any club with Luke Capewell is going to have a bad time.
NF
Guest
But Oikee last I check wasn't the Broncos suppose to be the powerhouse club dominating the competition every year. If I recall oikee you saying the Broncos should be top 4 every year and premiership every 6 years but it just doesn't work that way but don't worry the Broncos will come good. Hopefully by then the Cowboys get a premiership or two.
oikee
Guest
If you read the sports science article in this weeks rugby league week, you would not go near them or the warriors with money. They will never win while they bring juniors through. Its impossible. Go find a team who can strip juniors from any areas or clubs, these are the powerhouse teams, the little clubs, it is how league operates, backwards.
Maroon Blood
Guest
At $41 to win the title they would be worth a flutter surely....