They may be sweating on powerhouse Tevita Pangai's fitness but the Brisbane pack will have no excuses if they don't excel in 2019, Matt Gillett says.
New Broncos coach Anthony Seibold looks set to shift second-rower Gillett to lock for next week's NRL season opener in a bid to combat Melbourne's monster forwards as Pangai battles a hamstring complaint.
Pangai was a standout for Brisbane last year but it remains to be seen when he will prove his fitness after being rarely sighted this pre-season.
The Tongan international was reduced to a cameo against Queensland Cup side Wynnum before being rested for last weekend's NRL trial against Gold Coast.
"It might be a bit of a process for Tevita to get back to full fitness but he is doing everything he can," Gillett said of Pangai's plight.
In another concern, towering prop Payne Haas will be suspended for the first four rounds of the season for failing to cooperate with the NRL integrity unit regarding an incident involving his family.
However, Gillett said the emergence of young guns David Fifita and Jaydn Su'A in 2018 would counter any claims the Broncos pack lacked punch.
It's believed Seibold may use a fully fit Pangai as an impact bench forward this year and slot Su'A or Fifita into the starting second row with Alex Glenn.
Joe Ofahengaue is expected to feature in the front row with Matt Lodge.
"In Su'A and David (Fifita) we have two young edge back-rowers who played some good footy last year and have really taken on that role," Gillett said.
"As a side there are no excuses not to perform well as a forward pack.
"We have plenty of depth. We just need to nail it."
Gillett admitted that would be easier said than done against a Storm pack boasting New Zealand great Jesse Bromwich, giant prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona and damaging back-rower Felise Kaufusi.
"Melbourne have those big bodies who can get offloads," he said.
"As a forward pack we will focus on limiting their offloads and slowing their play the ball down because they have a fair hooker there in Cameron Smith."
