Told his captain and coach considered him an NRL finals X-factor, Brisbane forward Matt Gillett suggested they must be talking about a television show.

"X-factor .... is that singing?" said a self-deprecating Gillett.

No one else at Suncorp Stadium had any doubt what Darren Lockyer and Anthony Griffin were referring to after watching Gillett's eye-catching performance in his team's 40-10 qualifying final win over the Warriors on Saturday night.

Gillett again showed his ability to come up with big plays in big games - like the lead up work he did in Lockyer's 35th minute try.

With nothing really on, Gillett stepped one player, drew another two defenders, faked a flick pass and cleverly slipped a one-handed pass to an alert Lockyer with his arm just centimetres off the ground.

While fellow Broncos youngsters Jharal Yow Yeh, Gerard Beale and injured fullback Joff Hoffman look like Group One thoroughbreds when they run, Gillett, with his ungainly gait, can resemble a draft horse, until he leaves defenders stranded or slips a miracle ball.

"He's certainly a bit of an X-factor which helps in these sort of games," said Lockyer, who likened his off-loading to the silky skills of Warriors playmaker Feleti Mateo.

Gillett, who's been used more in the middle of the ruck, appreciated the opportunity to get out on the edge and use his footwork, strength and off-loading game against the Warriors.

With representative forward Sam Thaiday to serve the second week of his finals suspension in Saturday night's knockout clash with St George Illawarra at Suncorp Stadium, Gillett and Ben Te'o will again work with Alex Glenn and Corey Parker in a formidable back-row rotation.

"I've been playing a bit in the middle and it was good to get back out on the edge and do my job for the team," said Gillett.

Gillett ended the game in the centres after coach Griffin pulled Justin Hodges from the field early to eliminate risk of more hamstring dramas.

He could see the funny side in Griffin frowning on his impromptu chip-and-chase play that almost resulted in a try but which was clearly not part of the game plan.

"I was lucky it almost paid off or I might have got the hook (pulled from the field)," laughed Gillett.

"Hook (Griffin) has told everyone if it feels right, just to do it."

Griffin has invested a lot of time working with Gillett on when to hang onto the ball and not force passes after his confidence slipped early in the season.

"It's paying off now," he said.

The Bribie Island discovery insists he doesn't feel expectation to pull off something special every week.

"I don't feel any pressure out there. Hook (Griffin) has just given everyone confidence to go out and do their job," he said.

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