The Brisbane Broncos are riding high in 2023, but Wally Lewis and Darren Lockyer believe there’s a reason to be cautious about the club’s early season form.
Having started the year unbeaten, the Broncos are the form side of the competition and could emerge as a premiership threat.
This season’s success is similar to last year when the side won nine games in the first 14 rounds. However, a disastrous back end of the season meant it missed out on finals.
READ MORE: Tigers ‘deeply sorry’ for botched Anzac strip
READ MORE: Delicious Masters twist to torture Greg Norman
READ MORE: ‘Sad’: F1 scandal erupts over stolen title
Speaking on Wide World of Sports’ QLDER, Lockyer said the players need to keep last year’s fade out in the back of their minds.
“They do not need to get too far ahead of themselves and remind themselves what happened last year – it can turn around very quickly if you don’t have the right attitude week in, week out,” he said.
“There’s really good signs and a lot of optimism in Brisbane at the moment but we’re only five weeks into a marathon really.”
Brisbane’s poor form at the end of last season also coincided with the State of Origin period when Selwyn Cobbo, Kurt Capewell, Patrick Carrigan, Payne Haas and Corey Oates all represented Queensland and New South Wales.
Stream the NRL premiership 2023 live and free on 9Now
Coach Kevin Walters will be under pressure to ensure the same results don’t happen again, and Lockyer, a Broncos director, believes he should be well prepared for what’s ahead.
“Kevvie’s into his third year so he would’ve had an inkling of how he manages that period, but obviously this year if they’re still playing as well as they are, going into Origin I, then they’re going to lose a few players,” he said.
“I think they’ve only got one game though without their Origin players but it’s not so much about getting through the Origin period, it’s after.
“When that’s all said and done, and the hype and adrenaline comes off an Origin series, that’s when it gets really tough.
“But I think Kevvie would’ve learnt and made some notes of what he did the last couple of years and how he can do things better.”
NRL Highlights: Broncos v Tigers – Round 5
Fellow QLDER panellist and rugby league Immortal Wally Lewis agreed the Broncos greatest test will come during the Origin series.
“Everybody thinks when your Origin players are back it’s easy street, they’ve all returned we’ll do it quite comfortable from here, but that’s when the greatest challenge for a team arrives,” he said.
Brisbane will hope to continue its unbeaten streak on Saturday night when it plays Canberra Raiders at Suncorp Stadium.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
The Mole’s round five team of the week: Axed Knights star sends ‘stunning’ message
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
