Brisbane prop Thomas Flegler has in his quiet moments dreamed of finishing his stint at the club with a premiership, but says that goal will largely be dependent on maintaining composure under the blow torch of finals footy.
The Queensland firebrand will join the Dolphins next year but he has imagined lifting the NRL premiership trophy with the Broncos in Sydney on October 1.
"Definitely. You try not to get ahead of yourself but I would be lying if I said I hadn't thought about it," Flegler said.
"We have just got to stay patient, be calm and take it game by game because it can be over just as quick as it started in this game."
Brisbane are all but assured of a top-two finish and can wrap that key position up with an away win over Canberra on Saturday.
Flegler is a cavalier character and always raging and roaring into the defensive line with the ball, and belting opposing attackers when they venture his way.
The 24-year-old from Tully has channelled his aggression this year and resisted the urge to spontaneously combust, as he has on occasion in previous seasons.
"I think our discipline throughout 80 minutes definitely could improve," Flegler said of an area the Broncos were yet to hit their peak.
"Hopefully we can start doing that in coming weeks and we will see where it takes us. We have still got a lot of improvement on both sides of the ball in our game.
"We can't take a backward step. The Raiders are going to come out firing. It is that tight. Every team is fighting to stay in the top eight at the moment."
Flegler has played one NRL final, a 58-0 thrashing by Parramatta in 2019, but he is ready to return to that arena.
"If you want to play against the best and be the best you've got to do that," he said.
"Come finals time, that is what it takes. We are all very excited. There is not a lot of finals experience between our whole team but we have done the job so far (in 2023)."
Captain Adam Reynolds is out of the Canberra clash with a calf strain and will be replaced at halfback by former Wests Tigers playmaker Jock Madden.
Winger Corey Oates returns from a knee injury and will play his 200th NRL game for Brisbane.
