Melbourne have won their past eight games at AAMI Park against Brisbane, but Broncos hooker Ben Hunt knows what it takes to end the cycle.
The 35-year-old veteran, now hooker, played halfback the last time the Broncos tasted success in Melbourne in a 26-16 win on August 26, 2016, in a side that contained club stalwarts Darius Boyd, Matt Gillett, Corey Parker, Sam Thaiday and Corey Oates.
Hunt is the only surviving member of that team and will start at No.9 on Thursday night when the Broncos play the Storm at AAMI Park.
The AAP report from the 2016 win, an incredible 3268 days ago, said the Broncos attack "clicked into gear from the outset, showing sublime ball-handling skills to stun the home side twice in early stages".
"Melbourne looked more energetic after the break but could not wear down Brisbane's defence," the report said.
It sounds simple, but rugby league essentially is a simple game. The template for success is clear.
Hunt was also on deck in 2015 for a 14-12 win at AAMI Park when the Broncos conjured another victory based on steely defence.
In that performance each Broncos player from 1-17 played a part, before bench hooker Matt Parcell made a try-saving tackle on Storm forward Felise Kaufusi in the final minute with a one-on-one ball-and-all tackle.
After both wins the reports that followed referred to the "brick wall Broncos" in defence.
Hunt, speaking after Brisbane's 60-14 win over South Sydney, said a similar mindset would be required from the current side.
"That's probably how we are going to have to win again," Hunt said.
"If we go down there, they are a great attacking side, so if you want to beat them, you have to defend well.
"We will have to take their key players out of the game, make it a low-scoring game and play high-percentage footy.
"We need to grow on what we did against Souths. We have to improve on playing the long game and play the high-percentage stuff."
Hunt knows from experience that AAMI Park is a tough place to win at any time and will be a true test of the sixth-placed Brisbane's premiership hopes.
"They protect their home ground and you have to be at your best to win down there, so we have to be better again than we were (against Souths)," he said.
"It will be a great test for us to see where we are at in the competition.
"They are humming. It's going to be good for us. I'm looking forward to seeing where we are at."
Hunt had his best game against the Rabbitohs in his new role at hooker, and his combination with fellow spine members Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds was slick.
"It was a big step forward," Hunt said.
"There's still a lot of things we can improve on, but it was definitely a step in the right direction."
Canberra Times
