Brisbane halfback Peter Wallace is not hiding from criticism of his recent form but knows he and scrumbase partner Corey Norman can strike back against Parramatta on Monday night.

Wallace and Norman were on the receiving end of some critical comments from Broncos great and general current manager of football operations Andrew Gee following the club’s loss to the Gold Coast last weekend.

The new halves partnership started the season strongly, guiding the side to the top of the NRL ladder earlier in the campaign.

But with Norman, who took over from Darren Lockyer in the five-eighth role this year, struggling with a groin injury, their combination has gone off the boil in the past month.

“You don’t like hearing it (criticism) but we’ve have to take it on board and use it in a positive way,” Wallace told AAP.

“There’s no point kicking stones.

Wallace understood Gee’s message following the loss to the Titans.

“We were well below par last Friday night and the criticism was obviously justified,” said the former NSW halfback.

Wallace didn’t take Gee’s comments personally.

“Gee Gee is not like that, he cares about all of the boys at the club,” he said.

“He’s given us a rocket and now we have to get on with things.”

Wallace said he and Norman, whose groin problem has him in some doubt for Monday night’s clash with Parramatta, need to improve their fifth tackle options and play more direct football against the Eels.

“There’s no secret forwards win the game,” he said.

“You win that battle in the middle and on you’re on top, it all starts there.

“But having said that, Corey and I have got to get back to doing the little things right and make sure we execute all our plays properly.

“Playing more direct than laterally and making better fifth tackle decisions will help fix that.

“A few times last Friday we just let all the pressure off. We’re not building enough pressure at the moment to make teams fold and that’s what we really need to work on.”

Wallace said the whole side lacked energy, enthusiasm and effort against the Titans.

“Those are the things … that win you the tight games,” said Wallace.

“We showed against the Warriors we’ve got it in us.”

Norman and Corey Parker (medial ligament strain) face fitness tests on Sunday.