Forward Joe Ofahengaue admits no one will be giving Brisbane a chance in Friday’s NRL clash with heavyweights Melbourne.

But he says that will motivate the battling Broncos to prove the critics wrong.

Brisbane are still smarting from their last round 48-0 thrashing from Wests Tigers – their seventh loss in eight games.

And there appears to be no relief in sight against an in-form Storm who have not lost to the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium since 2009.

Ofahenague could understand why Brisbane had been written off, with one bookmaker rating them as $9 outsiders against third-placed Melbourne.

But Ofahenague insisted they would use the criticism to produce an effort the club could finally be proud of on Friday night.

“From last week’s performance obviously no one is going to back us at all,” he said.

“It’s hard. You want to block out all the outside noise and what people are saying about us but deep down we have to use that as motivation.

“We know how bad we have been in previous weeks. It’s on us to turn up and try to prove these guys wrong.”

A brutally honest Ofahengaue conceded a win on Friday night would be a “bonus”, saying the scoreboard would be not be their gauge for success.

“Win or lose if we go out and put in an effort …that the fans and our club can be proud of…look each other in the eyes and commit to not letting our teammates down, I think that’s good enough for me,” he said.

“If we come away with a win that would be a bonus.”

Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold got a shot in the arm this week with the board dismissing reports he had to win five of their remaining 10 games to secure his job.

However, Broncos chairman Karl Morris could only guarantee the future of Seibold – who is in the second year of a five season deal – until the end of 2020.

Ofahengaue said the team could help alleviate pressure on their under-fire mentor with a stirring display against Melbourne after bristling when questioned whether the players backed Seibold.

“Anthony is our coach. I’d be dumb not to stand behind him. I don’t know what kind of question that is,” he said.

“We got ourselves into this. The only way we can get ourselves out is stand up together, united, and go out and put in a good performance and that will reflect on the coach.”