Young Brisbane forwards inspired by past greats

Matt Lodge insists the young and raw Broncos forwards are ready to do the premiership-winning packs of the past proud ahead of their first test this pre-season against an NRL side.

The 23-year-old prop has a fire in his belly after being named to start alongside Joe Ofahengaue in Saturday night's trial against the Titans on the Gold Coast.

Lodge spoke to NRL.com about a team photo of the 2006 premiership-winning side where all the players were Test or Origin representative players at some stage of their careers, apart from halfback Shane Perry.

"There is a poster up on the wall of one [premiership] winning Broncos team and they had 16 out of 17 who were Aussie or Origin players. It was back when they had Shane Webcke, Brad Thorn, Petero [Civoniceva] and Sam Thaiday in the pack," Lodge said.

"The club relies on good results. Those boys had a good team and we have our work cut out to back that up, but we are ready.

"It is a young team and we will have our ups and downs. We just have to stay consistent and not get ahead of ourselves if we have a good win, or get too low when we lose.

"Us forwards have definitely got to feed off each other, and look after each other on and off the field, and just play for each other and keep turning up for each other."

While light on for Test or Origin experience in the middle-forward rotation, Lodge said Thomas Flegler and Patrick Carrigan would do the job if selected to play NRL and was confident Ofahengaue would make an impact as a regular starter.

"Flegie and Patty are definitely ready. They are both hard workers and they play aggressively," Lodge said.

"They've been training hard all pre-season and competing with us. If we don't play them, they'd be playing somewhere else. They are some of the best young players coming through in the game.

"[Ofahengaue] has been here for a while now and had a role off the bench but he's been one of the best trainers all pre-season and we've been building our combo.

"I just love that he cares so much about winning. He'll go all day and keep turning up."

Tevita Pangai jnr has been rested from the trial with a hamstring strain but Lodge was confident the Tongan international would get his nagging injury under control.

"It is not about getting him fit for the trials. It is about getting him ready so he can be flying during the season.

"He is like a Ferrari. You don't need to test drive him, just make sure you use him in the big ones."

A lean and toned Lodge said he was set to play lighter than last year, but felt stronger.

"I am probably down a couple of kilos. Our gym trainer has got everyone the strongest they have been. A lot of our training is game related so I hope that carries over into the games and I am blowing a little less against the Titans," he said.

"It is up to us to do the right thing and play well now. I just want to back up last year's performance and improve in a few areas."