If the Brisbane Broncos are to win the 2025 NRL Premiership and end a 19-year Premiership drought, SEN’s Corey Parker believes it will be through their strong forward pack.
It is widely acknowledged that the Broncos possess some of the best attacking weapons in the competition with the likes of Reece Walsh, Selwyn Cobbo and Jesse Arthars among others at their disposal.
However, Parker feels the Broncos’ forward pack is often overlooked and will be crucial in determining Brisbane’s fortunes this season.
“If a team is to win a competition, it’s won or loss by the forwards and by how much is determined by the outside backs,” Parker said on SENQ Breakfast.
“The outside backs can turn half chances into full chances.
“They have some exciting, firebrand back rowers that have their best football still ahead of them.
“If you look back at the teams that have won the competition, they always have a Test front rower in the team.
“I cannot find a team in the last 10 years where that isn’t the case. You need at least one elite, world class front rower in your team to win a competition.
“Do the Broncos have that? At this point in time, they have two of them.
“Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan.”
However, Parker is cautious of the Broncos given their spectacular collapses in recent years.
In 2022, the Broncos sat fourth in Round 19 before losing five of their last six games to miss out on finals entirely.
After being moments away from the 2023 Premiership, Brisbane watched Nathan Cleary snatch the game late for Penrith and tumultuous 2024 season resulted in a 12th place finish and the dismissal of coach Kevin Walters.
“The challenge for the Brisbane Broncos will be up to the them,” Parker added.
“They have the tools. They have the recipe and they have the players to take them to the next level.
“Should they play in a Grand Final? That’s up to them.”
The Broncos begin their 2025 season at Allianz Stadium against the Sydney Roosters on March 6.
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