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Experienced Broncos forward Tallisha Harden believes the side isn’t far off from pushing for the NRLW title despite just one win in the opening month of the seven-week competition.

The Broncos must beat the Eels on Sunday to book their finals spot after recording their worst regular season record in the NRLW’s short history.

However, Harden takes confidence in the fact the Roosters were in a similar position last season, scraping into the finals with two wins before hitting form and doing the unthinkable to win the NRLW title.

Harden’s side has all the motivation to beat the Eels on the Central Coast this week with a possible semi-finals berth scheduled to be played on home turf at Suncorp Stadium on September 25.

It will be a reversal from last season, where the Broncos were forced to play against the Roosters at Leichhardt Oval in a semi-final match despite finishing first in 2021.

“There’s a definite belief in the group that our best footy is ahead of us but you need to find it quickly in a short competition,” Harden told NRL.com.

“It’s a puzzle at the moment but the positive is that fate is still in our hands.

Bundy Mixer Selection Session Week 5

“If we go out and play well against Parramatta and get the win, we should make the semi-finals and then anything can happen after that as we’ve seen previously.

“It is weird being 1-3 but we’re trying really hard and have got a good group of girls. The intent is there, it’s just not translating on the scoreboard at the moment but that will turn.”

The Broncos were beaten in the NRLW’s first-ever golden point match against the Dragons last week and have suffered heavy losses to the Knights and Roosters.

Their close one-point defeat “stung a little bit more” for the Jillaroos forward after the effort that was put in for 72 minutes.

“We won a lot of statistical areas [last week] which is something we’ve been doing but just haven’t been turning them into points," Harden said.

“We’re having some players come up with some really nice individual efforts like Shenae [Ciesiolka] and Chappo’s [Jaime Chapman’s] tries so we need to build on that.

“Our line defence needs to get better especially under pressure. If we can tighten up there it will put us in good stead.”

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National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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