All the way: Broncos win over ‘Axe’ with new resolve
Joel Gould |
Brisbane legend Trevor Gillmeister is the hardest of taskmasters so when he says the Broncos can go all the way and win their first title since 2006 you sit up and take notice.
The two-time premiership winner, known as ‘The Axe’ for his penchant for chopping down opponents in their tracks, saw enough in the 30-14 victory over Melbourne last week to be convinced his former side is the real deal.
Brisbane travel to Canberra on Sunday for the qualifying final on the back of 10 wins from their last 12 matches.
Many of those wins have been tit-for-tat victories where the Broncos scored more points than their opponents with attacking flair.
Last week they had a finals mentality that stunned the Storm, as they did in the 26-0 win in the qualifying final in 2023 over the same opponents.
“They put a stake in the ground with their defence,” Gillmeister told AAP.
“The Broncos’ defence in general has been very up and down but last week proved to me they can go all the way because of their defensive technique and attitude. They convinced me.
“The Broncos just let in three tries despite the firepower Melbourne have got. They lost Jahrome Hughes during the match but they still had Ryan Papenhuyzen and Cameron Munster.”
It’s a big call by the former Queensland skipper considering Brisbane have the seventh-best defence of the eight finals sides this year with 508 points conceded.
Five-eighth Billy Walters told AAP the side has now embraced the methods of defensive coach Ben Te’o and it was starting to show.
“Billy’s defence has been out of sight,” Gillmeister said.
“Billy has the technique to bring down the big guys. He has the desire and the commitment. The rest are following suit.”
Broncos prop Payne Haas said the Storm display was the template for the weeks ahead.
“I feel like we’ve been working towards that kind of performance defensively for the last few weeks,” Haas said.
“I feel we took a lot out of the last time we played Melbourne in Melbourne (in a 22-2 loss) and I feel like we just built off that.
“We’re working towards being the best defensive team and that’s what you need to be in the finals.”
Gillmeister remembers the rivalry between the Raiders and Broncos as being “huge” in his day.
Between 1989 and 1994 the two clubs shared five titles. While not clashing in a grand final they had classic finals and club battles.
“There was the Queensland connection with guys like Gary Belcher, Mal Meninga, Steve Walters and Gary Coyne playing for Canberra and you wanted to get one-up on those blokes,” Gillmeister grinned.
“It was a terrific rivalry because we all knew each other and played with and against each other.
“They were a great club. When I was at the Roosters in 1987 I had a bee in my bonnet about Canberra because they knocked us out of the finals race.
“I can see both clubs featuring in finals battles in future because they both have young up-and-comers and older hard heads.”
AAP
