Rookie coach Ivan Henjak is not afraid to admit he was worried as Brisbane's losses mounted up before the club got their faltering finals campaign back on track with four straight wins.

The Broncos' proud finals record remains in tact for an 18th successive year after it looked in real danger after they slumped to seven losses in eight games.

However, victories over Cronulla, Penrith, St George Illawarra and North Queensland in successive weeks turned things around, guaranteeing them a place in the finals.

Henjak, who started 2009 on a hiding to nothing after replacing Wayne Bennett, said the losses had eaten into his confidence even though he did his best to keep himself and his players positive.

"I wasn't confident," he told AAP on Monday.

"Your confidence takes a battering when you go through something like that.

"I was worried, of course I was worried.

"But I feel a lot better and the club and the players are in a lot better place now and anything is possible once you're in the finals."

Henjak said going through what was a testing time for him and his players was character building and something that they could use in the future.

"You don't and can't prepare for something like that, you just go through it," he said.

"We all went through it together and we all came out the other side.

"We've all learned a lot from that experience."

One very pleasing aspect of Brisbane's gritty win over the Cowboys at the weekend was how well the players backed up from their hard fought 12-2 win the previous week against the Dragons who were humbled by South Sydney.

"People don't realise the effort and emotion that went into the game," said Henjak.

"You can't be at your best every week but the boys toughed it out against the Cowboys in bloody hot conditions."

"I'm just so happy for the players that they've turned things around and restored some respect after what was a very embarrassing loss to Canberra.

There's a possibility Henjak could come face to face with his former boss Bennett in the finals.

However, the prospect of going up the master coach, doesn't faze Henjak.

"If I do, I do," he said.

"I don't have to play him, I'm not looking it that way if it happens."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP