Brisbane forward Corey Parker refused to bite back on Tuesday at stinging criticism levelled at Brisbane's pack by former captain Gorden Tallis.

Brisbane last weekend failed to deliver the emphatic win it needed against the Gold Coast to convince critics they're in the same league as Melbourne or Manly.

Tallis didn't spare his old club this week, raising concerns about the toughness of Brisbane's pack which couldn't get over the top of the Titans last Friday.

Brisbane won the game 25-21 on the back of more Darren Lockyer brilliance.

But Tallis said Brisbane's forwards had missed an opportunity to lay the platform for a win that could have sent a shudder through their finals rivals.

"That's Gordie's comments, I can't help what Gordie says," said Parker, clearly not interested in engaging his former captain.

Asked if he thought Tallis's comments were deliberately designed to fire up Brisbane's forwards, Parker said: "I don't know, you probably should be interviewing Gordie".

Parker did concede Brisbane needed to keep its mind on the job for 80 minutes and not take its foot off the accelerator as it had in recent weeks.

"Coming into the semis there are going to be teams that play the 80 minutes, the Melbournes and the Manlys, so you've really got to work for 80 minutes against those teams," he said.

"It's fair to say the last couple of weeks we've clocked off for periods of time so it's certainly in our minds not to do that."

Coach Wayne Bennett welcomed the players back from a three-day break with a torrid training session at Red Hill on Tuesday.

Skipper Darren Lockyer, still recovering from a virus which almost forced him out of the Titans game, and centre Justin Hodges (flu) missed the session in which Bennett constantly barked at his players and upped the talk and intensity.

"Benny (Wayne Bennett) has upped the ante with two weeks to go to the semis," said Parker.

"We're not playing great guns at the moment and we've got a lot of things to prove."

Parker dismissed suggestions Brisbane, one point behind the faltering fourth-placed Roosters, had an easy run home against the struggling Bulldogs and Newcastle.

"The Dogs are fighting to keep away from the wooden spoon and Newcastle are in good form," he said.

"There's no easy run and the Bulldogs beat us at home the last time we played them."

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