Lions on ‘edge’ after poor start

Lions co-captain Harris Andrews admits Brisbane players are on “edge” but isn’t blaming the heartbreak of last year’s grand final loss for his side’s poor start to the season.

Heading into Sunday night’s QClash against the Gold Coast Suns at the Gabba, the Lions have lost five from seven this season and are desperate to avoid a third straight defeat.

Last Thursday’s 54-point loss to the Giants in Canberra was Brisbane’s worst performance of the season and has made it extremely difficult for the Lions to secure a top-four berth.

Andrews said the Lions identified a lack of “effort” and “intensity” as the Giants ran riot in the second half and admitted he and his teammates were nervous about coach Chris Fagan wielding the selection axe this week.

“There’ll be plenty of blokes that put their hand up and say they didn’t play up to the standard that they’ve set over the last couple of years,” he said.

“I’m sure there’d be a few boys, myself included, who (aren’t) sitting around happy with themselves and feeling comfortable.

“Everyone’s on edge looking to get better. Players aren’t taking liberties and not just assuming that they’re in the team each week.

“Guys are getting to work and, and yes, their form might not necessarily be as good as it wants to be, but we’re certainly not sitting around happy with ourselves.”

Andrews was not seeking excuses for Brisbane’s poor form and was adamant it had nothing to do with the tough task of overcoming the devastation of losing last season’s grand final by just four points to Collingwood.

“If you’re looking in the past, you’re going nowhere,” he said.

“We did a really good job at the end of last year … identifying what we needed to get better at, and I don’t think that (grand final loss) is an issue at all.

“Guys are not playing necessarily up to the standard they want to be every week at the moment.

“We’re looking forward to moving forward and certainly not reflecting on the past. We’ll just control what we control, and that’s come with a good attitude.

“We’d love to be playing more consistently, playing four quarters every single week, but you play in this competition, which is really tough.

“We’ve had quite a tough draw early on, played a lot of the top teams, played these big games against teams like the Giants, and if you’re just off, they really make you pay.”

The Lions will also on Sunday be chasing their first home win of this season.

After a perfect home record last year, Brisbane is zero from three in matches at the Gabba in 2024.

“We’re just excited to get back out on to the Gabba and try to make a statement,” Andrews said.