NRL: Cleary's confident Warriors are in winning form for Broncos battle

Warriors coach Ivan Cleary. Photo / Greg Bowker

Hopefully it doesn't come down to a field goal.

That's how coach Ivan Cleary feels about tonight's blockbuster match against the Broncos at a sold-out Suncorp Stadium.

Cleary's career as Warriors coach swings on how long his side can remain in the NRL finals race.

As is his way, he closed yesterday's final training run to the media - presumably to protect the secrecy of line-up changes that will include Lewis Brown starting for Shaun Berrigan at centre and the possible promotion of Elijah Taylor to the 17.

Cloak and dagger is his preferred MO, but at times Cleary can be refreshingly forthright, such as when he admitted he had no idea what went wrong in the 49-12 finals demolition by the Cowboys in Townsville in 2007, or this week when he admitted he wasn't confident his side could get the job done if the match came down to a single kick for a single point.

That lack of confidence - or more accurately dose of realism - would stem from the last match between these two sides, when the Warriors botched three field goal attempts before Broncos halfback Peter Wallace showed them how it is done.

"We haven't had to do it again since," Cleary said. "That was the only game this year where we've had to try to get one. You can practise all year but until you get in that situation ... hopefully it doesn't come that close."

It might not. There is a pronounced swagger about these Warriors. They expect to win tonight and win well.

"I think we are more ready this year, I feel like we are a better team in almost all areas," Cleary said. "Hopefully that will show [tonight]."

The round 22 loss to the Broncos and round 25 to the Dragons had provided valuable lessons.

"You can't drop your guard at any stage or get a bit sloppy at any point. Last week's game against the Cowboys was probably our best in some time in that regard."

The Broncos will be desperate not to let Darren Lockyer down in his last finals campaign. Cleary, though, suspects the emotional boost provided by the Lockyer circus might be running out.

" Hopefully they are all emotioned-out... I just reckon he's had enough fairytales. It might be time for us to have one."