Forget about convincing Paul Gallen, Payne Haas admits Brisbane themselves could do with a boost of internal belief as they eye off NRL nightmares Melbourne.
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The Broncos host the Storm at Suncorp Stadium on Friday, a venue the visitors have incredibly owned in head-to-head battles since 2009.
The Storm have an overall 16-3 record against Brisbane at the stadium and have won the last 11 games between the sides by an average of 22 points.
Brisbane (13-8) had lost four straight to be 2-4 earlier this season, before a seven-game streak launched them towards the top four.
They now sit in a stack of teams below Penrith (18-3), North Queensland, Cronulla (15-6) and the Storm (14-7) and are yet to convince everyone of their credentials.
"They've outdone a lot of people's expectations," former Cronulla premiership captain Paul Gallen, in Brisbane to promote his next fight, told reporters on Wednesday.
"But they're no chance of winning the comp, because they're not good enough this year."
Brisbane's win over Newcastle on Saturday snapped a two-game losing streak and shored up their first finals appearance since an embarrassing week-one loss to Parramatta in 2019.
Haas still has nightmares about that record 58-0 thumping and admits this year's squad needs a win over a premiership force like the Storm to ensure they aren't just making up the numbers next month.
"We're not that team anymore that can just put a good performance in against a top-four team and think 'that is good enough'," he said.
"I think we do have to prove it (how good we are) to each other.
"We've been waiting for the last two years (to play finals), especially after that Eels one.
"We talk about how much it sucked and we haven't played finals since then so we want that off our back and hopefully the first week of finals get that win."
Haas played through a shoulder injury earlier this season, the issue eventually enough to see him miss the decisive final State of Origin clash.
He insisted there were no fresh issues this week despite nursing a corked forearm and complaining about a few "potholes" at their pristine Red Hill headquarters that had him stumbling.
"I had those few weeks off so I'm feeling good and fresh," he said.
"Obviously I don't look it, but I feel pretty good coming into the back end of the season."
Australian Associated Press
