Michael Maguire says Brisbane Broncos are still on track to reach this year’s NRL grand final, even as they sit sixth on the ladder heading into the final stretch of the season.
The first-year coach has endured a turbulent campaign at Red Hill but believes his squad can ride their current momentum all the way to October.
The Broncos started brightly at 4-1 before stumbling through a poor mid-season patch that briefly pushed them outside the eight. Since their Round 13 defeat to Manly, however, they’ve steadied, losing only to South Sydney and Melbourne.
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With Penrith and the Warriors both dropping points in recent weeks, Brisbane could yet climb higher if results fall their way.
Momentum key ahead of Dolphins clash
For Maguire, the path forward is simple: keep winning and build rhythm before the finals. “We started off with that as our goal,” he told SEN’s Afternoons with Jimmy Smith. “Now, there are no reasons why (the goal of a premiership) it’s not there for many of the teams up top.
“It’s about getting momentum, and that’s obviously what we need to make sure we get (against the Dolphins). If we get the momentum of the game and play how we want, I believe that I’ve got a team that definitely can be there (on Grand Final day).”
Brisbane will need to continue their charge without key trio Ezra Mam, Adam Reynolds and Selwyn Cobbo until finals. Saturday’s derby against the Dolphins at Suncorp is set to be season-defining; victory would pull them within a point of Penrith with three rounds to play.