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- Jan 25, 2014
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BEN Hunt missed nine tackles last week, but teammate Alex Glenn reckons the expected return of Matt Gillett to the Broncos’ right edge will help the halfback’s defence.
Glenn insists Brisbane, with Origin forwards Gillett, Sam Thaiday and Josh McGuire restored to Thursday night’s team to take on St George Illawarra, are still a chance of a top-four finish.
Better form from Brisbane’s pack and Hunt are essential for the Broncos to make the eight, much less haul in at least two teams ahead of them by recovering a five-point deficit to the top four.
Hunt missed nine of the 29 tackles he was called upon to make in the loss to Sydney Roosters last Thursday, with two tries conceded when he was unable to match the strength of scorers Boyd Cordner and Dale Copley close to the tryline.
The Broncos halfback is averaging 3.9 misses per game this season, one of the highest among starting players, but Glenn said the return of Gillett was important.
While Brisbane are in such strife that a return of one or even three Origin players is no guarantee of a rebound, it’s notable that they conceded 63 points in the two losses to the Roosters and Panthers, which Gillett has missed through injury.
“Gillo brings a lot to that right edge. Him and Benny Hunt have been working so hard the last couple of years that they know each other inside and out,’’ Glenn said.
“Benny trusts the process out there, that Gillett will turn up for him. When you have a lot of changes, it’s hard to build that trust on the field. The younger players are doing the best they can.
“To have Gillo back will be great for our team. He has a strong attack and also brings his defence.’’
Gillett has become one of the best defending backrowers in the game, making 34 tackles per match this year and missing, on average, two.
Brisbane, who won themselves two home finals last year, will miss the four unless they win all remaining five games and there are stumbles from two of the three sides going to third and fourth place — Canberra, North Queensland and Canterbury.
“I still believe our team can make it (top four). We aren’t far off,’’ he said.
“Everyone is putting in the effort. We are trying to get all the players back in the team and hit some consistency.
“I don’t know if any of those (three) teams are vulnerable. We just have to take care of our games, week by week.
Those teams have been the most consistent teams so they deserve to be up there.”
Brisbane were able to name Glenn, frequently a stopgap left centre in recent weeks, on a five-man bench, comprising all forwards, for the match in Wollongong.
“We have to make sure we play for the full 80 minutes and the rewards will come,’’ Glenn said.
The Dragons beat Brisbane 12-10 at Kogarah last year but have lost the past two clashes with the Broncos at Wollongong’s WIN Stadium, in 2014 and 2013.
“I think the Dragons are a bit like us, in a rough patch themselves,’’ Glenn said.
“Playing at home, they will really want to produce a great performance.’’
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Glenn insists Brisbane, with Origin forwards Gillett, Sam Thaiday and Josh McGuire restored to Thursday night’s team to take on St George Illawarra, are still a chance of a top-four finish.
Better form from Brisbane’s pack and Hunt are essential for the Broncos to make the eight, much less haul in at least two teams ahead of them by recovering a five-point deficit to the top four.
Hunt missed nine of the 29 tackles he was called upon to make in the loss to Sydney Roosters last Thursday, with two tries conceded when he was unable to match the strength of scorers Boyd Cordner and Dale Copley close to the tryline.
The Broncos halfback is averaging 3.9 misses per game this season, one of the highest among starting players, but Glenn said the return of Gillett was important.
While Brisbane are in such strife that a return of one or even three Origin players is no guarantee of a rebound, it’s notable that they conceded 63 points in the two losses to the Roosters and Panthers, which Gillett has missed through injury.
“Gillo brings a lot to that right edge. Him and Benny Hunt have been working so hard the last couple of years that they know each other inside and out,’’ Glenn said.
“Benny trusts the process out there, that Gillett will turn up for him. When you have a lot of changes, it’s hard to build that trust on the field. The younger players are doing the best they can.
“To have Gillo back will be great for our team. He has a strong attack and also brings his defence.’’
Gillett has become one of the best defending backrowers in the game, making 34 tackles per match this year and missing, on average, two.
Brisbane, who won themselves two home finals last year, will miss the four unless they win all remaining five games and there are stumbles from two of the three sides going to third and fourth place — Canberra, North Queensland and Canterbury.
“I still believe our team can make it (top four). We aren’t far off,’’ he said.
“Everyone is putting in the effort. We are trying to get all the players back in the team and hit some consistency.
“I don’t know if any of those (three) teams are vulnerable. We just have to take care of our games, week by week.
Those teams have been the most consistent teams so they deserve to be up there.”
Brisbane were able to name Glenn, frequently a stopgap left centre in recent weeks, on a five-man bench, comprising all forwards, for the match in Wollongong.
“We have to make sure we play for the full 80 minutes and the rewards will come,’’ Glenn said.
The Dragons beat Brisbane 12-10 at Kogarah last year but have lost the past two clashes with the Broncos at Wollongong’s WIN Stadium, in 2014 and 2013.
“I think the Dragons are a bit like us, in a rough patch themselves,’’ Glenn said.
“Playing at home, they will really want to produce a great performance.’’
No Cookies | The Courier Mail
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