It was never in doubt.
Broncos coach Anthony Griffin admitted he didn’t lose any sleep despite relying on other results to book his team a last gasp NRL finals berth.
And don’t you dare call the Broncos lucky.
Griffin revealed he thought their finals fate was all but sealed after Canberra upset Brisbane’s top eight rivals Parramatta last Saturday night.
In the end, Penrith ensured Brisbane squeezed into eighth spot on points difference by downing yet another finals threat the New Zealand Warriors on Sunday night.
Not that Griffin had any doubts.
“After the result on Saturday night I thought that was going to be the hardest one to roll our way and once that did I thought we were a good chance,” Griffin said on Friday.
The Broncos squad assembled at retired Brisbane flyer Jharal Yow Yeh’s residence on Sunday to ride home the Panthers against the Warriors.
They may be fortunate to make the top eight but Griffin baulked at suggestions his side were lucky to be in the finals mix.
“Everyone is going on about how lucky we are to be there but we have been very unlucky for most of the season,” he said of their close losses earlier in the year.
“You don’t end up playing this game tomorrow night because you are lucky.
“After 24 weeks we ended up in eighth spot and that’s all that matters.
“We have been consistent all year, if anything we have beaten ourselves consistently as well.
“Other teams had their chance to get past us on the weekend and they couldn’t.”
Griffin also did not have much time for North Queensland’s perceived advantage over Brisbane in Townsville.
The Broncos have lost their last two sudden death finals in north Queensland to the Cowboys – in 2004 and 2012.
However overall Brisbane have lost just five times in 22 games at the Cowboys home ground.
Then again North Queensland are on a roll, winning their last 10 home games.
But Griffin wasn’t buying into the hype as he tried to extend his stay before making way for the return of Wayne Bennett.
“All that other stuff sounds nice and it’s good for the build-up but…it’s going to be a tough semi-final,” Griffin said.
“It doesn’t matter where you finish now.
“We are excited about being in the playoffs and we know we can do something if we get it right tomorrow night.”
