GLENN SAYS MINDSET IS CRITICAL TO BRONCOS
BRISBANE stars launch their finals campaign admitting they are still haunted by grand final defeat, two years after having their hearts broken by Queensland archrivals the Cowboys.
Top sports psychologists, Phil Jauncey, will be a key figure in steeling Brisbane’s squad for a premiership assault, starting against the Roosters tomorrow night at Allianz Stadium.
Jauncey has been a regular face at Broncos training this season, with backrower Alex Glenn praising his work in helping the squad’s younger core prepare mentally for the pressures of September football. But the club’s senior nucleus are equally motivated to break Brisbane’s 11-year title drought.
Glenn said the Broncos’ gut-wrenching extra-time loss to the Cowboys in the 2015 decider still hurt.
Brisbane were just one tackle away from title glory when North Queensland pivot Michael Morgan slipped the magical pass that put Kyle Feldt over and sent the grand final into extra-time.
Glenn has not forgotten the moment Johnathan Thurston put the boot in, literally, with his matchwinning field goal.
“It’s tough, to be honest. I will never watch that game ever,” Glenn said.
“It’s hard to think about and even talk about because, to be honest, it still hurts us. To be so close to winning ... it’s gut-wrenching. “