Broncos fullback Jamayne Isaako believes Brisbane need to forget about the fancy stuff as they adopt a back-to-basics approach to kick-start their 2021 season.
The Broncos showed glimpses of undoubted potential in their final pre-season trial on Saturday, racing to an 18-6 lead over North Queensland before a second-half capitulation dented their confidence leading into their round-one showdown with Parramatta.
Isaako said Brisbane’s biggest problem was not so much in their defensive concentration but their failure to stick to their simple instructions which piled unnecessary pressure on every other facet of their play.
"We just went away from our game plan and we were too fancy on the edges," Isaako said.
"We spread the ball a bit too much when we needed to just go forward. Good teams complete and we didn’t complete in the second half.
Match Highlights: Broncos v Cowboys
"We just need to stick to what we know best and that’s just punching forward and if we punch forward we create opportunities on the edges."
The big question mark for the Broncos will be how the team responds for the season opener in a fortnight given their confidence had taken such a heavy battering last season.
New coach Kevin Walters clearly believes he has the squad that can be big improvers, but they need early wins to start the year so the positivity he has built around the squad in the summer doesn’t quickly erode as it did in 2020 under Anthony Seibold.
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Isaako is confident the wooden spooners can get their season moving forward quickly.
On the right edge he looks to have the makings of dangerous combination forming with Tesi Nui while usual right centre Kotoni Staggs recovers from knee surgery.
"Everyone knows what his attributes are, he has quick feet and he is good when he gets the ball in hand," Isaako said.
"As a fullback I just need to get him early ball and get him on the edge."
