Walters sees 1990s qualities in current Broncos team

Brisbane prop Pat Carrigan is set to face St George Illawarra after emergency dental surgery as the Broncos celebrate past glories and look to repeat them.

PATRICK CARRIGAN.
PATRICK CARRIGAN. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Brisbane coach Kevin Walters says his team is developing the trust in each other and confidence that were hallmarks of the club's premiership-winning sides.

Walters and former greats attended a lunch at Brisbane City Hall on Friday to celebrate the 1993 and 1998 premiership-winning outfits, ahead of Saturday night's clash with St George Illawarra.

Broncos prop Pat Carrigan is set to run out at Suncorp Stadium after having emergency dental surgery during the week, but forward Brendan Piakura is on standby.

"I expect Pat to play. He trained this morning and went OK," Walters said after Friday's captain's run.

"We will give him until kick-off. It will be his decision."

Brisbane are undefeated ahead of the Dragons clash. They beat the Red V 14-6 in the 1993 grand final after finishing fifth and having to win four games on the trot to take their second title.

"It is an important part of our history but what is an even more important part of this team right now is that they leave a legacy that those (premiership winning) teams left," Walters said.

"That has been the instructions all week again, about this team and what they can achieve."

Walters said it was time for the current team to "stand up" as he explained the essence of the premiership-winning sides of the 1990s.

"It was a trust thing more than anything else, the trust that each individual player would come every week ready to give his best," he said.

"Once we crossed that white line it was game on and that is what I expect our boys to do tomorrow.

"The early evidence suggests there is a lot of trust and mateship amongst the group, which the great teams have. That is building for us. I expect that to accelerate over the season as well."

Resilience and toughness were also key qualities of the Broncos title-winning teams. In 1993 lock Terry Matterson played with a busted shoulder and centre Steve Renouf a broken jaw in the decider.

Carrigan's determination to play Saturday night epitomises qualities that are essential to any top team.

"That (1993) team no one gave us a chance when we lost the last round of the season to St George. Everyone put a line through us, maybe even the coach as well," Walters said.

"I remember Chris Johns rallying the troops and saying, 'Hang on a minute. We have got something to win here. We get all our players back at full strength and we are going to be hard to beat'.

"I guess that is a confidence thing that comes from being successful and winning. Our boys aren't there yet in this current team but I expect that to happen over the next six months."