NRL: Broncos brace for backlash

Darren Lockyer. Photo / Getty Images

Broncos coach Anthony Griffin has warned his players to expect a backlash from Manly today following a turbulent week at the NRL judiciary which resulted in the Sea Eagles losing several star players.

Griffin refuted suggestions Manly may not give the Suncorp Stadium sellout their full respect after the Brookvale Oval brawl with Melbourne led to Brett and Glenn Stewart, five-eighth Kieran Foran and young rookie forward Darcy Lussick all being suspended. The spiteful clash also claimed winger David Williams (fractured vertebrae), forcing coach Des Hasler to make numerous changes.

"Manly hasn't been a focus for us this week," said Griffin after Brisbane trained in front of about 1500 fans at Red Hill. "We know what they're like as a club. They're going to be aggressive, they're going to be hungry and I expect them to have an even bigger sting in their tail after the week they've been through. If we were in the same position we'd be very keen to try and get out and put on a good show."

Today's game has been promoted as Darren Lockyer's farewell to fans in his last official home and away appearance for the club and the players will be pumped to give him a day to remember in front of 52,000 fans. Griffin said Brisbane would not be keeping any aces up their sleeve in case they run into Manly in the finals. Even if the Broncos win today, they cannot overtake Manly for second place on the table, because of an insurmountable points difference.

That leaves the Warriors, winners over the Cowboys last night, as the Broncos' likely first opponents in the playoffs.

"We've got no real secrets we just need to peel off a good performance against them and something we're happy with," he said. "We weren't happy with our performance last weekend against Souths."

Manly were extremely physical and aggressive in overpowering Melbourne last weekend but Griffin felt the Storm were off their game a little. "I think Melbourne's physicality was a bit off last week and to their credit, Manly bashed them out of the contest.

"If you're going to win football games at this time of the year your football pack has to aim up no matter who they're playing. Manly play a physical game and so do the Warriors.

"I thought the Dragons were very physical against Penrith on Friday night. That's a strength every team wants at this time of the year."

Even with Foran and the Stewart brothers missing, Griffin said his players could not afford to take the game for granted.

"It's round 26, the last game of year.

"We want to make sure we're playing our best football heading into the finals," he said.