Chicharito
DOGGIES ARMY!!!
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2005
- Messages
- 17,715
- Reaction score
- 600
Experience and an ability to cope with big-game pressure could be the aces up Brisbane's sleeves in their battle to extend a stunning run of finals appearances.
Only the mighty St George Dragons can boast a better consecutive finals record than the Broncos, having featured in 21 straight end-of-season series' between 1951-1973, winning 11 premierships in a row along the way.
Manly made 11 straight finals between 1968-78, winning four premierships while South Sydney lined up in 10 straight finals campaigns which produced an impressive six premierships between 1926-35.
Brisbane's effort to make 15 straight finals and win six premierships between 1991-2006 is extraordinary in the modern era.
If they can beat Parramatta at Parramatta Stadium on Sunday they will make it 16 successive finals series and move a little closer to St George's seemingly unreachable mark.
The blue and yellow army will be out in force on Sunday but Brisbane have a tremendous record against the Eels at Parramatta Stadium, having made the trip 15 times for 12 wins.
While they are missing inspirational leader Darren Lockyer and Test players Brent Tate, Shaun Berrigan and most likely Karmichael Hunt, Brisbane still have enough players with big game experience and a coach who has achieved all there is, to make them a threat if they can get over the final hurdle this weekend.
A loss would see retiring Brad Thorn leave the Broncos stranded on 199 NRL games and coach Wayne Bennett sitting on 499 premiership games.
Like all big games, the crunch clash for a guaranteed spot in the finals will be won up front in the engine room.
Brisbane's starting pack have a combined tally of 923 first grade games and a lot of representative muscle having featured in 65 Origins and 52 Tests.
The Eels' pack on the other hand have racked up 770 NRL games, headed by 208 to Nathan Hindmarsh.
Hindmarsh (16 Origins, 14 Tests) and Kiwi Nathan Cayless (33 Tests) make up their 66 representative games between them.
Both sides will approach Sunday's game as if the finals have arrived a week earlier and Brisbane is a side which, because of its success, backs itself under big game pressure.
If Brisbane's players needed any more motivation they got it on Thursday with a newspaper headline screaming "Worst ever".
"Each game now could be our last," conceded prop Dane Carlaw who wants to head to French club Le Catalans next season knowing he gave everything to Brisbane's cause.
"A lot of us have played Origins, Tests and grand finals, so we're ready for it.
With the exception of hooker Mick Roberts, who has only played a handful of games, every member of Brisbane's starting pack has won a premiership.
"It's pretty exciting coming to training and the way everyone is putting in for each other and having fun," said Carlaw.
Because of the injuries a lot of players, like boom youngster Dave Taylor, have had more football than expected.
"That's been a bonus because we've lost a lot of our key players, but someone always puts their hand up which has been great," said Carlaw.
"If we can win on the weekend we're in the eight, that's it. It's all up to us.
Utility Michael Ennis has trained well enough this week to force his way into the squad while speculation refuses to die that Test fullback Karmichael Hunt will play, despite his failure to appear on the training paddock so far this week.
Saturday will be D-Day for Hunt with the odds heavily stacked against him.
Source: AAP
Only the mighty St George Dragons can boast a better consecutive finals record than the Broncos, having featured in 21 straight end-of-season series' between 1951-1973, winning 11 premierships in a row along the way.
Manly made 11 straight finals between 1968-78, winning four premierships while South Sydney lined up in 10 straight finals campaigns which produced an impressive six premierships between 1926-35.
Brisbane's effort to make 15 straight finals and win six premierships between 1991-2006 is extraordinary in the modern era.
If they can beat Parramatta at Parramatta Stadium on Sunday they will make it 16 successive finals series and move a little closer to St George's seemingly unreachable mark.
The blue and yellow army will be out in force on Sunday but Brisbane have a tremendous record against the Eels at Parramatta Stadium, having made the trip 15 times for 12 wins.
While they are missing inspirational leader Darren Lockyer and Test players Brent Tate, Shaun Berrigan and most likely Karmichael Hunt, Brisbane still have enough players with big game experience and a coach who has achieved all there is, to make them a threat if they can get over the final hurdle this weekend.
A loss would see retiring Brad Thorn leave the Broncos stranded on 199 NRL games and coach Wayne Bennett sitting on 499 premiership games.
Like all big games, the crunch clash for a guaranteed spot in the finals will be won up front in the engine room.
Brisbane's starting pack have a combined tally of 923 first grade games and a lot of representative muscle having featured in 65 Origins and 52 Tests.
The Eels' pack on the other hand have racked up 770 NRL games, headed by 208 to Nathan Hindmarsh.
Hindmarsh (16 Origins, 14 Tests) and Kiwi Nathan Cayless (33 Tests) make up their 66 representative games between them.
Both sides will approach Sunday's game as if the finals have arrived a week earlier and Brisbane is a side which, because of its success, backs itself under big game pressure.
If Brisbane's players needed any more motivation they got it on Thursday with a newspaper headline screaming "Worst ever".
"Each game now could be our last," conceded prop Dane Carlaw who wants to head to French club Le Catalans next season knowing he gave everything to Brisbane's cause.
"A lot of us have played Origins, Tests and grand finals, so we're ready for it.
With the exception of hooker Mick Roberts, who has only played a handful of games, every member of Brisbane's starting pack has won a premiership.
"It's pretty exciting coming to training and the way everyone is putting in for each other and having fun," said Carlaw.
Because of the injuries a lot of players, like boom youngster Dave Taylor, have had more football than expected.
"That's been a bonus because we've lost a lot of our key players, but someone always puts their hand up which has been great," said Carlaw.
"If we can win on the weekend we're in the eight, that's it. It's all up to us.
Utility Michael Ennis has trained well enough this week to force his way into the squad while speculation refuses to die that Test fullback Karmichael Hunt will play, despite his failure to appear on the training paddock so far this week.
Saturday will be D-Day for Hunt with the odds heavily stacked against him.
Source: AAP
!