Brisbane have been one of the NRLW's powerhouses for the competition's entire history but after four seasons in the finals wilderness, the Queensland powerhouse is hell-bent on reclaiming some of their past glories.
The Broncos were the stand-outs in the NRLW's early years, losing just one match in the first three seasons as they romped to a trio of premiership titles.
But since then, it has been harder going. Brisbane consistently boasts one of the most talented squads in the game but they have yet to win a finals game since the 2020 grand final.
It is a four-year drought that is not just in the back of Brisbane's mind ahead of Sunday's preliminary final against Newcastle, it is the ultimate propulsive force.
A grand final clash between the Broncos and the Sydney Roosters, who take on Cronulla on Saturday night in the other prelim, has seemed inevitable all season but as veteran halfback Ali Brigginshaw points out, such a showdown has seemed inevitable in the past.
"Everyone tries to line us up with the Roosters but everyone said the same thing last year and we didn't make it. For us, it's not about anyone we're playing, it's about us," Brigginshaw said.
"That semifinal has been a huge hurdle for us and we haven't been able to overtake it.
"This group has achieved nothing. We've been together over three years and without silverware, there's not much to talk about because you can't talk about the games you should have won.
"We're focused on this semifinal more than anything. I think it'll be the toughest game we have because we have to get over that hurdle."
Brigginshaw has played in each of Brisbane's failed finals campaigns in recent years, including last season's shock 14-0 semifinal loss to Cronulla.
This year's Broncos team is their most dominant in years. They lost just once in the regular season and come into the finals in red-hot form, having outscored their opponents by a combined 120-10 over the final three weeks of the regular season.
But Brigginshaw knows that counts for little now and the 35-year-old is hell bent on avoiding the pitfalls that have torpedoed Brisbane in the past.
"We might have taken shortcuts over the past few years and we learned you can't take those shortcuts," Brigginshaw said.
"The other team is doing everything they can to beat you and if you aren't doing all the one-percenters, it all adds up.
"If half the team isn't doing the right thing, you'll be found out."
What could make the difference for Brisbane this time around is the form of fullback and captain Tamika Upton, who has scored 18 tries in 11 matches and seems certain to claim her second Dally M player of the year award.
Her form on return to Brisbane after three seasons with Newcastle is clear evidence of her status as the best player in the world, given she leads the league in line breaks, try assists and line break assists.
Brigginshaw played with Upton in her initial stint with Brisbane from 2019 to 2021 and has borne witness to the change first-hand.
"The way she articulates her game, the way she breaks the game down has changed," Brigginshaw said.
"I could ring her right now and she'd know who plays on what side, how they field kicks, what side they like to tackle with, everything.
"She works so hard during the week to get her body and mind ready.
"Tamika's brought a lot of leadership and she's taken that pressure off me. I've never felt so relaxed in the group because there's so much help from her and the rest of the leaders.
"That's where we've nailed it to get the most out of the group."
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