Seven premierships is nothing to be sneezed at.

Let’s face it, Wayne Bennett can coach a bit.

But Broncos co-captain Corey Parker hinted that any future success by the NRL club should be credited to departing coach Anthony Griffin after they went down swinging in the 2014 NRL finals race.

The curtain was officially drawn on Griffin’s four-year Broncos stint after arch rival North Queensland Cowboys bounced them out 32-20 in their NRL elimination final in Townsville on Saturday night.

Down 24-0 at halftime, Brisbane fans would have been forgiven for hoping the Bennett era resumed sooner rather than later.

However, Parker said the character shown by Brisbane to score three second half tries in seven minutes to make it 24-14 and almost silence the rabid Townsville crowd could be credited to one man.

“His time has come to an end. Brisbane have never been better from where we are sit as a group,” Parker said of Griffin.

“That’s largely to do with Hook (Griffin) and what he has done the last four years.

“I said to the guys ‘savour this moment, next year there may be times when we draw on this’.”

Griffin sounded like a man who had few regrets before handing the reins back to Bennett in 2015.

“It’s been a hard year at our club with everything that has gone on,” said Griffin, who has been linked to the Wests Tigers job.

“What I have been satisfied with is that we have stuck together as a football team.

“We never made excuses or shied away from tough situations.

“I am not one for honourable losses but I am content that this is a very strong football club.”

Never usually one to show his hand, poker-faced Griffin dropped his guard a little after his impressive 101-game Broncos stint drew to a close.

“There’s a really good football club building here (but) it’s been frustrating at times,” Griffin said.

“Long term we have built a foundation for a club that is going to successful.

“There’s a great group of players here and they are going to be successful.

“I would love to have won a competition.

“I am hurt at the moment but the year is finished and we will move on.”

Co-captain Justin Hodges – who copped a nasty head gash from a late Tariq Sims hit that is sure to draw the judiciary’s ire – dipped his hat to Griffin.

“Everyone knows what Hook has done for us and our club,” he said.

Griffin did not want to be drawn on the Sims hit on Hodges.

“We are not going to talk about a shoulder charge – it was on report, it’s done from where we are standing,” he said.

“We don’t lack character or heart or whatever you want to call it, but the boys rose again coming back to four tries to three but it wasn’t to be.”