Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin doesn’t want the captaincy to change the passionate and aggressive way forward Sam Thaiday plays for the NRL club.

“Sam will have to take on some extra responsibility as captain but I don’t want him changing his aggression or the passion and energy he plays with,” Griffin told AAP during a break in training at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast on Friday.

Thaiday steps out as Brisbane’s seventh captain since 1988 against Parramatta in the opening round of the NRL next month after seven years of Darren Lockyer calling the shots.

While Thaiday is renowned for tearing into flare-ups and Lockyer never threw a punch, Griffin believes they are not dissimilar in the way they lead.

“Obviously Lock probably had a lot more say with tactics and how we’re going to play.

“But Sam’s got a good football brain as well.”

Griffin said Thaiday’s job and priority was still to dominate up front for 80 minutes.

“I don’t want Sam going out there having to think about anything else other than getting his job done.

“After that will come the responsibility of being captain where he has some say in the tactics and the running of the side.”

There was none better at rallying his players and coming up with the big plays under pressure than Lockyer.

“I wouldn’t have put him (Thaiday) in that position if I didn’t think he had all those qualities,” said Griffin.

“Sam won’t have his head in every play technically like Darren did, because he’s going to have to do his role in the forwards.

“But I’ve already seen some good changes in him, he’s taking on more responsibility around the place, at training and off the field.

“I’ve said to him a few times the best way he can lead is play his best football.”