Young guns’ time will come, says bold Boyd
BRISBANE coach Anthony Seibold has challenged his side to prove its finals credentials as skipper Darius Boyd claimed that the club’s posse of young guns will deliver a Broncos premiership by 2021.
On the eve of tonight’s derby against the Titans, Boyd hit out at suggestions that the 11th-placed Broncos are a club in disarray, insisting Seibold’s youth policy would secure another title within two years.
Seibold is more focused on the present, urging his players to vindicate his belief that they have the talent to launch a late-season finals charge – starting tonight against the last-placed Titans in Robina.
The Broncos are one point outside the top eight and were dealt a blow yesterday when Queensland State of Origin forward Matt Gillett was ruled out with a fresh injury, this time to his lower back.
Seibold will finalise his Round 19 side today but Tevita Pangai Jr is expected to move from lock to the right edge.
Interchange prop Joe Ofahengaue is likely to be promoted into the midfield with 18th man Keenan Palasia set to join James Segeyaro, Rhys Kennedy and Pat Carrigan on the bench.
Asked if his side is a finals team, Seibold said: “Yes there’s no doubt about that – but the proof is in the pudding.
“We’re not looking ahead to the finals because if we do we go off-task. But I know where we stand, we are one point outside the top eight and we’re close enough if we’re good enough. Our focus is on (tonight).
“If we look ahead to seven weeks’ time, you lose your focus and one thing that happens in the NRL, you get bitten on the backside if you don’t stay focused on your next job.”
Seibold has blooded 11 club debutants this year, including seven NRL first-gamers, and Boyd said that sensations Payne Haas, Tom Flegler, Tom Dearden, David Fifita and Kotoni Staggs would inspire Brisbane’s seventh premiership.
“Definitely, 100 per cent,” Boyd said when asked if Brisbane would win a title within two years. “That is why it is really good for the future of the club that we have signed a lot of these blokes.
“We probably should have won some games this year that we haven’t and that is really disappointing … but we are doing something special here.
“Sometimes you need 30, 40 or 50 games to really learn a few things in the NRL.”
Brisbane have dominated the M1 derby but Seibold is wary after the Titans’ shock 26-18 Round 13 upset of the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.