Work with a mind coach has given Broncos players the self-belief that’s been missing for the past two seasons as they look to build upon a club-record comeback win over the Titans.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters brought in peak performance coach Mick Martin to address his players last week and whatever he said resonated as Brisbane turned a 22-0 deficit into a 36-28 victory.
Brisbane forward Payne Haas said Walters had focused on strengthening the players’ minds since arriving this season, with breathing techniques adopted earlier in the season helping compose the players during moments of high stress in games.
"I think Kevvie has been good for the mental aspect," Haas told NRL.com
"The last few years we’ve been pretty weak mentally as a team and I think last week was a good step in the right direction and we need to back it up this week.
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"Yeah, everyone can have the physical attributes in the game but if you’re not mentally there, it’s all based on your mentality and how you came in each week.
"I reckon we just didn’t panic. No one tried to do it on their own. We knew if we got the ball we would be alright and that is what happened.
"It was good for us coming back from 22 points, it’s the biggest in club history so that’s good for us but at the end of the day we’ve got to back it up this week and we need to do that this year."
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Centre Herbie Farnworth said the sessions with Martin had played a key role in strengthening the team’s resolve, but exactly what was discussed would remain a closely-guarded secret.
"It’s a secret. I can’t be telling you, sorry," Farnworth said.
"Definitely this game is probably more in your head than actually physically."
After a wooden spoon in 2020 and some disappointing losses this year there has been notable change in positivity around Red Hill now the players have proof they can make a comeback.
Winger Corey Oates said the key now for Brisbane was to replicate the performance in Saturday’s clash with North Queensland in Townsville.
The Broncos haven’t posted back-to-back wins since before COVID shut down the NRL last year.
"There is a lot to take out of it but we just have to back it up. We need to put back-to-back performances together," Oates said.
"We need to know we can do it week in week out, not just one off."
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