Brisbane prop Thomas Flegler says he has learnt plenty from an afternoon of meltdowns against the Warriors last year that led to him being put on report four times.
The 23-year-old will line up against the New Zealand side in a preliminary final on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium after having the book thrown at him in a 20-6 loss in Redcliffe in 2022.
Flegler, who hails from a fruit-farming family in Tully in Queensland's north, went bananas on that occasion.
He was pinged for a dangerous tackle on hooker Wade Egan, a late hit on prop Addin Fonua-Blake and a cannonball tackle on Josh Curran, all of whom will be playing for the Warriors on Saturday night.
Flegler received fines for those offences and ultimately copped a two-game suspension for a hip-drop tackle on Ben Murdoch-Masila late in the game.
"It wasn't the greatest day. I had just come off a four-game suspension and it was my first game back," Flegler recalled.
"I had just told everyone how good I was going to be and went out and got four (reports). The hip drop (punishment) had just come in.
"This year, my discipline has come a long way. I have only been sin-binned once or twice, which is pretty good. I have had no suspensions."
Flegler's aggression and fearless approach is what makes the Queensland forward the player he is but he is now channelling his energies more effectively.
"A player is no good when he gets suspended all the time," he said.
"I still have a long way to go in that area but I am definitely taking steps in the right direction."
Sydney Roosters firebrand Victor Radley took up meditation to assist him with lapses in discipline that repeatedly left him sent to the sin-bin or suspended.
"I didn't do anything in particular," Flegler said of reining in his wilder side.
"I am just another year older and more mature.
"I came to the realisation that the way I was playing wasn't that ideal. I just learnt to keep a cool head on the field and it is going well at the moment."
Flegler said it would be "outstanding" to win a competition with the Broncos before he joins the Dolphins next year.
First up he must get the better of rampaging Warriors prop Fonua-Blake.
"He is a great front-rower and probably one of the best in the comp," Flegler said.
"Addin is the driving force behind their forward pack."
