Broncos star says pain of 2023 has his team on a redemption mission

[ad_1] Brisbane second-rower Jordan Riki talks about his need for redemption for the 2023 grand ultimate loss with extra ardour than most.

Most Broncos will communicate of it, however Riki is forthright and digs deep into his emotions about that heartbreaking 26-24 defeat to Penrith, the teachings discovered and why he is able to atone in opposition to Melbourne on Sunday.

The 25-year-old performed probably the greatest, if not one of the best, video games of his profession within the 16-14 comeback preliminary ultimate win over the Panthers on Sunday.

His 48 tackles, together with two essential defensive performs to cease Nathan Cleary from scoring within the second half, plus his trademark kick-chase sport, had been on-song. It was the large moments he gained that had been the important thing.

Making up for the 2023 loss, the place he was under his greatest, was on his thoughts.

"Oh yeah. Completely, arms down," Riki mentioned.

"It was most likely on numerous us gamers' minds all through the week. It was positively on my thoughts.

"I had just a few chats with Madge (coach Michael Maguire). Myself and numerous different boys … stored saying 'redemption' all through this complete week. To tick that field and clearly transfer on to the grand ultimate goes to be superior.

"All we will say is that we have been there, we have achieved that and we all know what it is like. We took numerous classes from that 2023 yr and clearly it is also not achieved. We have got yet one more sport."

Riki admits that he "most likely took that 2023 yr as a right" and it caught up with him within the decider.

"A variety of us boys that had been in that crew had been deers in headlights actually. We did not actually know what was occurring," he mentioned.

"The entire exterior noise of media, followers and clearly the grand ultimate parade … all the things was a large blur and you were not actually specializing in the sport.

"Now we all know that the video games are most essential. Clearly it is good to get pleasure from that week and soak it in with the followers. However on the finish of the day, now we have obtained to knuckle down and get that win."

ABC Sport Every day podcast ABC Sport Every day is your day by day sports activities dialog. We dive into the most important story of the day and get you on top of things with all the things else that is making headlines.

Riki's tackles on Cleary final Sunday confirmed whole consideration to his defensive function.

"I would most likely have clocked off a few years in the past and never solely myself, however just a few of the opposite boys as effectively," he mentioned.

"Madge has actually nailed up into us about concentrating for the complete 80 minutes.

"Focus's massively essential for us. We had been a younger crew a few years in the past and we have simply advanced and became such a superb crew.

"I can simply commend the teaching workers and everybody behind the scenes which have helped us get right here."

Riki had a beautiful match within the 26-0 qualifying ultimate win over Melbourne in 2023. One other show like that may be simply the tonic.

"They're such high quality crew," he mentioned.

"We have had many nice battles alongside the years. They're such an amazing membership, nice organisation and obtained nice gamers as effectively.

"They're very skilled. It will be a superb sport. I am simply excited to have the ability to get pleasure from this week with my membership and my gamers and simply go on the market on grand ultimate day."