No one in the NRLW has been able to pull it off just yet.
But Brisbane flyer Meg Ward believes inside knowledge will help the the NRLW defending champions stop ex-Broncos hooker Brittany Breayley in their season-opening grudge match against St George Illawarra at Bankwest Stadium on Sunday.
Breayley was the key to Brisbane’s stunning 2018 NRLW success, helping the outfit go through the inaugural season undefeated before thrashing Sydney Roosters 34-12 in the grand final.
However, in what was seen as a dramatic power shift in the fledgling women’s game, the 2018 Dally M Medallist joined five Broncos and linked with the Dragons for the 2019 season.
While Queensland Origin speedster Ward admitted combating Breayley was easier said than done, she believed it was possible after learning her tricks of the trade playing alongside the gamebreaker last year.
“There is no other Brittany Breayley out there. She is one of the best but I have full confidence in the girls we have chosen and I believe we can shut her down,” she said.
“We know the way they play and they know the way we play so it should be a good match-up.
“Britto is the best No.9 in the world at the moment.
“All you can do is grit your teeth and shut her down early. That’s what we will be looking to do.”
Asked if Sunday’s clash would be personal against a Dragons outfit boasting so many ex-Broncos, Ward said: “Not really.
“Yeah they were part of our team last year and we probably had the best season but we have full confidence in the girls we have now.”
It’s not just the Broncos playing roster that has a new look for 2019.
Former Kiwi Ferns coach Kelvin Wright has taken over the reins from premiership winner Paul Dyer this year and he has impressive new assistants ex-Broncos NRL captain Corey Parker and Warriors stalwart Simon Mannering alongside.
“Kelvin is a totally different style to what we had last year but having Corey and Simon there has been really great,” Ward said.
“There’s 648 games of experience there, and they have definitely shown that at training and helped us all over the park.”