Brisbane coach Kevin Walters insists his inexperienced young squad won’t implode under the weight of expectations in the NRL preliminary final against the Warriors.
The Broncos trained in front of thousands of fans on Friday, ahead of Saturday night’s showdown at Suncorp Stadium.
Expectations are high among supporters that a 17-year premiership drought will be broken by this Broncos team.
Of the current Brisbane squad, only captain Adam Reynolds and back-rower Kurt Capewell have played in, and won, preliminary finals.
Young guns and key players in the Broncos’ run to the brink of the grand final – including fullback Reece Walsh, centre Herbie Farnworth, five-eighth Ezra Mam and prop Payne Haas – are facing the most important game of their careers.
Walters said the pressure would not overwhelm them. “We have handled it well all season really,” Walters said.
“Everyone has been waiting for us to fall off a cliff and implode but we haven’t.
“If anything, we have gone again. I still believe our best football hasn’t been played yet and that is what excites me about tomorrow night.
“When we play our best football it is at a very high level.”
The Broncos were not in the predicted top eight for many pundits before the start of the season, having lost five of their last six games in 2022 to miss the finals.
“Everyone has got doubters,” Walters said.
Reece Walsh. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
“I have got a lot of belief in myself, and my knowledge of the game is to get the right people in positions and go from there. We’ve done that.
“Our playing group have been the ones that have actually rolled it out. They’ve been doing it and they have got to do it again tomorrow night, which I am sure they will.”
While stars including Walsh, Farnworth, Haas, lock Pat Carrigan and prop Thomas Flegler have not featured in a grand final qualifier before, Walters made the point they have played and succeeded in State of Origin and international football.
The pressure was embraced by the Broncos in their 26-0 qualifying final win over Melbourne and Walters said the same template of a fast and physical start would be vital against the Warriors.
He said it was “a relief” to coaching staff that maestro 33-year-old captain and half Reynolds would be on the park to guide the side.
Reynolds’ head-to-head battle with Warriors playmaker Shaun Johnson will be crucial to the result.
Walters took on the coaching role at the Broncos with the ultimate goal of winning the club’s seventh title.
He said the squad was far from satisfied with just reaching a preliminary final.
“A really good performance tomorrow night would be really nice at this time of the year. It’s a big game and a sold-out crowd,” he said.
“If you are dreaming, this is the dream game to be involved in.”
© AAP
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