Super Freak
International Captain
Forum Staff
- Jan 25, 2014
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BEN Hunt says the Broncos have become feared again.
Ahead of the club’s season launch on Friday, Hunt said Brisbane are in a very different place to this time last year, as they kick off 2016 as the hunted.
Twelve months ago the Broncos were coming into a new era with the return of Wayne Bennett, and the pressure was on after the club failed to place higher than eighth in three straight seasons.
Hunt concedes Brisbane lost their fear factor during this time, but their charge to last year’s grand final has put them back on every club’s radar.
“Over the last few years teams didn’t really fear the Broncos anymore,” the playmaker told The Courier-Mail.
“I believe back in the day teams used to come up to Brisbane to play the Broncos and know they were in for a hard game. That sort of went away.
“We’ve earnt that back now. Teams will come up here knowing every week that they’re in for a hard game and it’s going to be a tough slog. We’re going to have a tough game every week.”
The Broncos will kick off their season next Thursday in an away game against Parramatta before their first Suncorp Stadium appearance on March 11 against the Warriors.
Hunt, who has had limited pre-season game time after missing the World Club Series through suspension, said both these matches will be testing.
But he also believes the Broncos are ready to live up to these bigger expectations — and get the redemption they want after last year’s near miss.
“Any team that goes deep into the finals and makes the grand final, they’re going to be a target the year after,” he said.
“Every team is going to be coming and trying to beat us because we were close to the number one team.
“But to win the grand final is my goal this year.
“Obviously that’s everyone’s goal every year if you’re playing NRL but we got so close last year, that’s something I want to taste. We’ve got the squad here to do it.”
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...s/news-story/f52903fe8f1b717c7046c76e264c7a41
Ahead of the club’s season launch on Friday, Hunt said Brisbane are in a very different place to this time last year, as they kick off 2016 as the hunted.
Twelve months ago the Broncos were coming into a new era with the return of Wayne Bennett, and the pressure was on after the club failed to place higher than eighth in three straight seasons.
Hunt concedes Brisbane lost their fear factor during this time, but their charge to last year’s grand final has put them back on every club’s radar.
“Over the last few years teams didn’t really fear the Broncos anymore,” the playmaker told The Courier-Mail.
“I believe back in the day teams used to come up to Brisbane to play the Broncos and know they were in for a hard game. That sort of went away.
“We’ve earnt that back now. Teams will come up here knowing every week that they’re in for a hard game and it’s going to be a tough slog. We’re going to have a tough game every week.”
The Broncos will kick off their season next Thursday in an away game against Parramatta before their first Suncorp Stadium appearance on March 11 against the Warriors.
Hunt, who has had limited pre-season game time after missing the World Club Series through suspension, said both these matches will be testing.
But he also believes the Broncos are ready to live up to these bigger expectations — and get the redemption they want after last year’s near miss.
“Any team that goes deep into the finals and makes the grand final, they’re going to be a target the year after,” he said.
“Every team is going to be coming and trying to beat us because we were close to the number one team.
“But to win the grand final is my goal this year.
“Obviously that’s everyone’s goal every year if you’re playing NRL but we got so close last year, that’s something I want to taste. We’ve got the squad here to do it.”
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...s/news-story/f52903fe8f1b717c7046c76e264c7a41
