By Liam Cook

UQ captain Pat Morrey believes his championship winning side is yet to reach its potential ahead of their round five clash with Brothers at St Lucia on Saturday.

“We’re a work in progress so far this year,” Morrey told Rugby News.

“The stuff we served up in the opening rounds, which we got away with, it will probably get punished in these coming rounds.

“We know we’re not playing to our potential, but you don’t win premierships in round four.”

The Students’ skipper said his side is wary of the threat that Brothers’ attacking style will pose on Saturday afternoon.

“Brothers play some cracking footy and have scored some great tries, so they are a real threat this season.”

“They play attacking footy from any point of the field arguably better than anyone in the competition

“Their No.10, Tayler Adams, has also been pretty bloody handy for them all year.

“If you are undermanned at the ruck or not doing your job in defence, they will turn it over and spread it wide where they have speed.

“They’ve got attacking threats from all over the field, so we’ve got to be really switched on for the whole eighty minutes.”

Despite being undefeated, Morrey said his side had plenty to improve upon from their victories over Wests, Norths and Souths.

“We showed some good character to hang in there against Wests and steal a win at the end.”

“We had an excellent first forty minutes against Norths where we scored thirty-five points, although the second forty wasn’t the greatest footy we’ve played.

“We were pretty honest with ourselves against Souths that it wasn’t up to our standards and the way we want to play.

“We have a pretty tough couple of games coming up against Brothers, Easts, Bond, and GPS.

“Those next four games will be a test of where we are actually at, especially this week against Brothers.”

The reigning premiers are all too familiar with challenge of going back-to-back, failing to claim consecutive titles in the 2018 and 2020 grand finals.

“We’ve had opportunities now to go back-to-back on two occasions and fallen short,” Morrey said.

“You have a target on your back from the get-go when you’re defending a premiership.

“Because we’ve got such a new group though, the focus isn’t necessarily going back-to-back.

“The focus now is being in the top four at the end of the season and the cup comes after that.”

Two standout individuals have led UQ’s unbeaten start to the year, according to Morrey.

“I think Brad Twidale has been one of our best throughout the opening rounds.”

“After losing Lona Halaholo to New South Wales, its’ great having big Nuku Swerling at number eight as that big body to get over the gain line.

“Those two have been some of our better players for the opening rounds.”

The club recently celebrated the two-hundred and fiftieth game of venerated head coach Mick Heenan.

“There was a pretty special presentation in the clubhouse after the game with the Norths team and we had a couple beers to celebrate.”

“We would’ve liked to put in a full eighty-minute performance for the bloke but getting a pretty dominant win was still a nice way to tick that one off.

“He’s pretty uncomplicated in the way he coaches, it’s all about doing the basics right.”

“For him it’s all about touch pass, being first to the breakdown and making your tackles.”

“He really drives the group not just to be better players but better men off the field, something that has really added to our culture.”

For now, though, UQ is focused on finding their best form in the next part of the season as multiple challengers to their reign emerge.

“It’s a pretty level playing field this season as far as threats in the comp go,” Morrey said.

“We have a pretty strong rivalry with GPS, and I think they’re going to be a pretty dominant force heading into the pointy end of the season.

“Brothers are playing well, and Wests have had some pretty gutsy wins after a rough start.

“Except for us, every team has dropped a game now, so we know it can happen any week.”