Penrith punish rusty Roosters
8 hours ago | Aidan Edgecomb
One-time Broncos enforcer Andrew Gee has urged Brisbane to give Gordie Tallis a fitting farewell in his last home game, against Melbourne at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
Tallis today described his 159th game for Brisbane and his last in Brisbane as "just another game".
But Gee called on Tallis' team-mates to pull out all stops to ensure his last home gamefor the club was one to for the scrap book.
"I just hope the boys are all ready and pumped up to give Gordie a fitting farewell," said Gee, who retired last season following a remarkable 250 games for Brisbane.
Gee said Tallis had been a loyal player for the club and a wonderful influence on the young players coming through the ranks.
"I know we say we don't go out and play for blokes and that you play for yourself," said Gee.
"But I'd really love to see the boys go out and give him the farewell that he deserves."
Tallis was trying to escape the hype and emotion his retirement has generated since his official announcement last week.
"It's just another game," said the 30 year-old forward who has always played with passion.
"There'll be some emotion but I have to control that because I have to play 80 minutes of football.
"If you build yourself up on emotion, it can last for about five minutes or until you get hit under the rib cage and have the wind knocked out of you.
"I can't get too carried away with the whole send off thing.
"It's my last game and I want to play well for the fans because they've been wonderful to me.
"But I can't be thinking like that because the team comes first and no individual is bigger than this team.
"If I play well for the team then it will be a good send off."
Gee said Brisbane would get a huge lift with Darren Lockyer, Shaun Berrigan and Tonie Carroll all returning from injury.
Brisbane has been exposed defensively in recent weeks with players forced to fill unfamiliar positions.
But Gee believed they could turn things around against the Storm, who also have five key players coming back who were rested last weekend against Manly.
"The real football starts and it's time to click on and I'm sure the boys know that," said Gee, the cornerstone of Brisbane's 1992-93 premiership wins.
"They need 17 players out there playing to their potential and the senior players to lead from the front."
Winger Scott Minto missed training today to have physiotherapy on his neck, adding to speculation that giant Kiwi discovery Gary Tupou could get a chance to follow up his eye-catching two-try debut.
While Tupou's defensive play was exposed by the Panthers, his two tries brought back memories of Lote Tuqiri in full flight.
"I've never seen an individual on debut score two more dynamic tries," said Tallis.
"But Scott's got until Saturday and he's been great for us.
"I'm sure Wayne (Bennett) will give him every opportunity to play."