We'll win when we're ready: Broncos coach - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

We'll win when we're ready: Broncos coach

David Beniuk and Wayne Heming 02/06/2011 06:11:38 PM Comments (0)

Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin has defiantly declared his side's losing streak will be over "when we're ready", ahead of Friday night's NRL danger match against Cronulla at Toyota Stadium.

Brisbane have entered their traditionally tough State of Origin patch with three straight losses, and head into a possible ambush against the desperate Sharks.

Griffin, though, was refusing to hit the panic button as he looked for his side to arrest a slide which had resulted in losses to Melbourne, Penrith and Manly.

"It's important to us but it's not a defining time," he said.

"We won seven in a row and people probably didn't expect that.

"If we go through a period where we lose a few in a row, it's just part of our season.

"The important thing for us is to concentrate on the big picture, keep putting in the hard work and everyone being honest and believing in the team.

"We'll win when we're ready and, if that's tomorrow night, that would be good."

The trip to wind-blown Shark Park against the physical Cronulla outfit is far from the NRL's most inspiring, and the home side have managed three wins from their past four clashes with the Broncos there.

Brisbane will be buoyed by the return of Queensland stars Darren Lockyer and Sam Thaiday after their post-Origin rest, while fullback Josh Hoffman makes his long-awaited return from a leg injury.

A quirk of scheduling means the retiring Lockyer will play his last regular-season club game in Sydney at Toyota Stadium.

"They're fresh, obviously, they're bouncing around, injury free and ready to play," Griffin said of his Origin duo.

"(It's) one of those old suburban grounds and they're tough at home when it's a bit breezy.

"We need to go down and play tough against them."

The Sharks stunned many in scaring Melbourne last week, eventually falling 14-8 at AAMI Park, and captain Paul Gallen said his injury-hit side needed to find some consistency.

"We need to start backing some good performances up," the NSW captain said.

"We had a good performance last week so we have to do it again this week, just hopefully get the win."

Cronulla will be without at least seven regular first graders, with props Luke Douglas (knee) and Josh Cordoba (hamstring) the latest to hit the casualty ward.

The crisis has resulted in former centre Taulima Tautai starting in the front row.

"He's 110kg now so it's not like he's not big enough," Gallen said.

"He's one of the guys that has to stand up for us. It's a good challenge for him and I hope he lives up to it because he's a good player and he's gone pretty well for us the last few weeks."

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