Carrigan credits 'siege mentality' for Brisbane revival

Patrick Carrigan has detailed how an old-fashioned "siege mentality" has revitalised the Broncos after the players looked within to find the inspiration to turn around a season that seemed destined for an early ending.

The Broncos have picked up five Telstra Premiership points in the past three weeks to sit one point out of the top eight on 17.

Captain Darius Boyd said after the 28-6 win over the Bulldogs that the continued progression of the young forwards, of which 21-year-old Carrigan is now a key member, gave him confidence a premiership was within reach in the next two seasons.

Carrigan said the focus was still firmly on a run to this year's finals, with the Titans away on Saturday night the first cab off the rank.

"I reckon that let alone the next couple of years, probably this year as well is exciting. We’ve sort of got the ball rolling and there is a bit of a siege mentality going on here at the club at the moment," Carrigan said.

"We have had an up and down year. We’ve put three good performances and then had three shockers … three good ones and then three shockers. It is exciting because everything that has happened to us in our footy career so far has come off the back of hard work.

"When you play for the Broncos something we are learning as young boys is that there is always pressure. The club has won [six] comps. You’ve got legends like Brad Thorn [who attended Brisbane training on Thursday] who has won a couple  himself.

"There was a lot of pressure at the start of the year but it is something we are warming up to and hopefully we can finish the year really strong."

When asked to elaborate on what he meant by a "siege mentality", Carrigan said the mindset of the team had been steeled by losses to the Titans, Eels and Knights.

"We weren’t really happy with what we had been dishing up," Carrigan said.

"When you are part of a club like the Broncos and you live and breathe success it is just what you expect of yourselves. As a team it is all starting to come together."

Coach Anthony Seibold said after the 18-18 draw with the Warriors that Carrigan had "put a marker down" when he made a career-high 130 metres and was poking his nose through the defensive line with real impact.

He also recorded his best defensive display with 31 tackles and none missed. Carrigan backed that up against the Bulldogs where he made 124 metres and again proved a handful.

"I had a look at my performances a few weeks before that and wasn’t happy. It has probably come with a bit of extra game time that I’ve had... and confidence," he said.

“I’ve really tried to focus on backing myself more."

Fellow Broncos forward Joe Ofahengaue said Carrigan was now "getting through his work like a Jai Arrow".

"Coming off the bench he is slowly starting to find that role of adding impact," Ofahengaue said.

"I played a lot of footy with Jai and watching Patty in the 20s hit up 80-minute games he just reminds me of Jai."

Carrigan has watched Arrow go from a bench forward at the Broncos to one of the Titans best performers and play for the Maroons.

"Jai probably plays a bit similar. He has a bit of skill but does a lot of the hard work through the middle," Carrigan said.

"His progression in first grade has been pretty flash. If I can keep a bit of me and take a bit of Jai Arrow’s game that would be awesome."