The underdog tag does not sit well with Brisbane backrower Corey Parker ahead of his team’s NRL elimination final with North Queensland in Townsville on Saturday night.
Bookies have dismissed Brisbane’s chances, with the eight-placed Broncos paying $2.85 with one agency to pull off an upset against the fifth-placed Cowboys ($1.43) in the do-or-die clash.
But Parker said self belief was strong in the side who snapped a six-game losing run with last round’s 19-12 win over lowly Penrith.
“We have faith in each other. Externally we can’t control what people are saying, but internally self belief has always been there,” Parker said on Tuesday.
Broncos coach Anthony Griffin kept the faith by naming an unchanged team for Saturday night’s showdown with their fellow Queensland club.
It marked the first time in months Griffin had the luxury of sticking with the same 17 after being ravaged by injury in the wake of the State of Origin series.
“It’s a bonus. This time of year you want your best team out there,” Parker said.
“We’ve put some good steps in the last month but we have had to do it with different combinations here and there.
“It will be good to get out there with the same team as last week.”
Following Tuesday’s training session the Broncos went into camp ahead of flying out for Townsville on Friday.
Their intense preparation ensured no Broncos were to attend the Dally M Awards in Sydney, even though Parker was a strong contender for Lock of the Year honours.
“Although it is great event it just cuts into our preparation for what we want to achieve,” Parker said.
“For the interstate teams it makes it difficult.
“That’s not to say we don’t want to be there but at the end of the day you have to put the team first.”
Parker said they would have to be at their best to topple the Cowboys, even though the Broncos have won 14 out of 18 games in Townsville.
“They (Cowboys) are flying along,” he said.
“Thursto (Johnathan Thurston) and Mango’s (Matt Bowen) combination is probably the best six-one combination in the game.
“They will be hard to stop but it is a challenge we look forward to.
“We all know footy is won in the middle and they have two of the form props in the game (Matt Scott, James Tamou).
“But we have some decent forwards ourselves.
“It will be a physical affair. That’s exciting.”
