Cool Flegler no longer Broncos' angry and suspended man

Ice and fire is a combination Brisbane prop Tom Flegler has melded into his repertoire as he rids his game of the suspensions that have marred previous seasons.

"I'm going in with a cooler head to be honest and just not trying to be so angry on the field," Flegler said.

"It is paying off, touch wood."

The 23-year-old has not been suspended this year after previously being the subject of scrutiny by the match review committee. 

He was twice banned in 2021 and missed six games. He was absent at the start of the 2022 season after serving four weeks for a high-shot on Cronulla's Jack Williams at the end of the previous campaign. 

In his first game back against the Warriors last year he was put on report four times and copped another two-week ban. 

Not this year though.

Flegler has retained his uncompromising style but is playing within the rules.

"Spending time on the sideline is not good for the team and not good for yourself," Flegler said.

"It is definitely something I needed to fix and I feel like I have come a long way in that area.

"It has been good not being suspended. We are only eight games in so hopefully I can continue that."

Flegler had a chuckle when asked about his good behaviour in 2023. He is trying not to think about it too much. 

"The more you think about it the worse it is. I think you have to just try and stay calm, not think about it and things will sort of happen pretty naturally," he said.

"It is the first time someone has mentioned it this year so you might jinx me."

Flegler comes from a banana farming family in north Queensland where they breed them tough. Rest assured he will be bending the line when he takes on South Sydney at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night, fighting fire with fire against the Rabbitohs pack.

"That is the way I play and I'm not going to stop that," he said.

"Sometimes you are going to slip over the line but I don't think there is a player in the game who intentionally goes out there to hurt someone or get suspended. It is a physical sport.

"(The Rabbitohs) have a high class forward pack and they are going to bring it to us. We definitely will be looking to do the same to them. It is going to be a good contest."