When the latest instalment in the Battle for Brisbane kicks off at Suncorp Stadium, there will be plenty more on the line than just bragging rights in the local derby.
The Dolphins are still searching for their first win of the season after letting a golden opportunity slip against Wests Tigers, while the Broncos are looking to live up to the pre-season hope and promise with a dominant performance against their arch rivals.
Although he knows something about grudge matches having coached the Rabbitohs against the Roosters previously, Broncos coach Michael Maguire is gearing up for his first Battle for Brisbane match in charge - and was happy to see the man who sealed the win in the inaugural match back in the line up, with Kotoni Staggs recovered from a quad injury.
“He has worked really hard, he had a mishap there early on with a pre-existing injury that we have been working with, but he is fit and I'm glad we were able to give him that extra week,” Maguire said.
“It just allows him to get ready for the game.
“I have been pretty impressed with Kotoni's leadership actually. I have known Kotoni a little bit over time. I've had a few discussions with him throughout last year and obviously the opportunities for him in the Origin space.
Round 4: Staggs is something special
“I have been really impressed with how he has gone about building the game and his hunger and passion for the Broncos.
“That's one thing that has really stood out, so I'm looking forward to seeing that out on the field among him and the players.
“It will be exciting, you have fans from both teams coming to the game and I was able to feel last week (atmosphere against the Cowboys), it was a full stadium and you could hear the noise.
“The players couldn't hear on the field and the things they have spoken about from their fans coming to the game, it was excellent.”
Willison: “We don’t take anything for granted”
Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf was under no illusions about the tough challenge coming up for his side, but said the team had showed good signs in past matches to make him confident a change in fortunes was ahead.
“We’ve got to back ourselves and be confident in what we’re doing, we’ve done a lot of good things in terms of our preparation and the pre-season,” Woolf said.
“It’s definitely been a rough start and not the start we wanted, but that doesn’t change what we know will work for us.
“We’re on the right path and showing signs of improvement.
“We’ve got to learn how to stop beating ourselves.
“We’ve done some really good things in all the contests and tended to beat ourselves by taking the pressure off.
“If we stop doing that and keep doing the good then we’ll be hard to beat.
First look: Dolphins v Broncos
“(The forwards) is a big battle this week, their middle forwards are outstanding, [Payne] Haas and [Pat] Carrigan and [Kobe] Hetherington does a really good job too.
“That’s a real battle. They know the challenge and will be up for it. There’s no doubt there.”
Despite the disappointing and disrupted start to the season which included cyclone-affected preparations for the first two rounds, Woolf was “not concerned” and also looked to talk down any criticism of particular players, saying the whole team needed to lift and maintain their standards.
Over the opening three games, questions have been asked about the finishing ability of the halves and the attacking involvement of fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, while inexperienced captain Tom Gilbert was still developing in his role.
“I’m not concerned. I can see things we’re trying to implement, but we need to do it more consistently,” Woolf said.
“Every team is going to go through rough periods and we’ve had ours early.
“In all the games, we’ve missed opportunities they’ve (the halves) created plenty and other blokes haven’t quite finished them.
“I don’t see that as a particular person’s problem. That’s our problem as a team.
“Once we stop beating ourselves and take the opportunities we’re creating, we’re going to see results.
“It’s our responsibility as a team and mine as a coach to make sure we’re getting him (Tabuai-Fidow) the ball in good positions, we haven’t done a great job at that.
“We’ve done it in little bits, but not consistently. He is ready to go and confident like everyone else.
“Tommy wears his heart on his sleeve, that's what makes him such a great leader, he leads from the front with his actions and no one puts more effort, more emotional investment as well into how he prepares and how he plays than Tommy.
“Tommy's played three games back from being more than 18 months out; he can't expect himself to be right at his best just yet, even though he's worked so hard to do such a good job so early and he's certainly doing his absolute best to lead from the front.
“That's all I'll ever ask of him.
“He's a guy that wears his heart on his sleeve, but I know what he's going to give us this week and I know he's going to lead from the front.”
Match: Dolphins v Broncos
Round 4 -
home Team
Dolphins
16th Position
away Team
Broncos
3rd Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
