Panthers brace for hurting Broncos in NRL

Sep 9, 2017 - 6:06 PM Brisbane will have a point to prove in next week's NRL semi-final against Penrith, according to Panthers stand-in captain Peter Wallace.

The Panthers booked a ticket to the second week of the finals with a pulsating 22-10 elimination final win over Manly on Saturday night.

But now they take on a Broncos side smarting from their qualifying final defeat to the Sydney Roosters, when they were down 14-0 inside 24 minutes.

Wallace, who spent six years at the Broncos in between stints at the foot of the mountains, said his former club would present a difficult challenge.

"Obviously the Broncos will want to bounce back from last week, so we expect them to come out firing," Wallace said.

"It'd be a big crowd so yeah, looking forward to getting up there and looking forward to the challenge."

The meeting will also be the second time Panthers coach Anthony Griffin takes on Wayne Bennett in the finals since Griffin was sacked at Red Hill in 2014.

Bennett had won just one of 10 matches against Griffin before earning a second with a comprehensive 32-18 win at Suncorp Stadium in April.

Asked for his initial thoughts on taking on his former club, Griffin said: "I haven't thought too much about Brisbane.

Obviously that's a big ask going to Brisbane and playing Brisbane in a final.

"I'm just really happy for the players. Guys like 'Wal', Dean Whare, I thought our experienced guys were really good.

"I'm glad that they're getting to this end of the year and being able to play in the finals. Wal had a tough year with missing out on Origin, but it's great to see him being able to play finals now and be on the big stage at this time of the year."

Source: AAP