Brisbane Broncos forward Thomas Flegler believes the challenges he and his Brisbane teammates faced as youngsters may lead them to an NRL title next month.
Flegler, who is set to join the Dolphins next season, was part of a standout group of teenage prospects that are now shining for the club, including the likes of Payne Haas, Patrick Carrigan, Herbie Farnworth, and Kotoni Staggs.
Together, they are inching the club closer to its seventh premiership.
“It’s going to be really special considering how long we’ve been here for and what we’ve been through to be where we are now,” said Flegler.
“We were boys playing against men.”
Flegler believes that the tough times they experienced as a core group, navigating their way through the 20s, forged a deep camaraderie and mateship both on and off the field, and it is these bonds that are now yielding dividends.
He pointed out that a deeper appreciation for the importance of defence has been pivotal factors in their success this season.
“Coming from where we’ve been, the experiences we’ve had together, you start to realise how important defence really is,” he said.
“When you start off your career, you are trying to find your feet and you don’t really realise what is important on the field and what is not.
“I think we’ve all come to the realisation now that defence wins games and that’s what we need to do better to keep going forward.”
Flegler is set to play his 95th game for the Broncos on September 23, and he is determined to end his tenure at Red Hill with a premiership win.
“I’d love to finish on a high. Hopefully, I’ve got two games left here, and that’s all I am focusing on,” he asserted.
Brisbane’s dominant 26-0 victory over Melbourne in the first week of the NRL finals has positioned them just one win away from reaching the grand final for the first time since 2015.
Flegler, along with Carrigan and Haas, led the charge in the middle, allowing halfback Adam Reynolds to keep Melbourne on the back foot with his exceptional kicking game.
“We knew last week was going to be our biggest test of the year,” Flegler reflected.
“We conquered that – now we have a bigger task ahead of us. We’ve definitely got one game left, hopefully two. We know we will need to go to another gear, and I believe we’ve got that in this team.”
The Broncos, currently valued at $2.60 with Jungliwin to clinch the premiership, will next face the winner of Saturday’s clash between the Newcastle Knights and New Zealand Warriors in Auckland.
