Blindside: New recruit Jesse Arthars could replace Anthony Milford as Brisbane’s fullback
Anthony Milford is expected to move back to five-eighth next season, opening the door for a new recruit to take over as Brisbane fullback.
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The battle for the Broncos’ fullback spot is about to heat up with former Titans young gun Jesse Arthars rocketing into the frame for the Brisbane No.1 jumper made famous by Darren Lockyer.
Skipper Darius Boyd’s impending move to left centre in 2020 means incumbent custodian Anthony Milford could return to five-eighth – opening the door for three candidates to audition for the fullback spot in pre-season.
Blindside understands Broncos winger Jamayne Isaako, British teenage whiz-kid Herbie Farnworth and Titans import Arthars are all in the mix to start the 2020 premiership in the No.1 jumper once owned by Boyd.
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Isaako had been groomed to succeed Boyd at fullback two years ago, but since that time, the Broncos have been impressed by the development of Farnworth, who has been a revelation this season at feeder club Norths Devils.
The 19-year-old scored 20 tries in 16 regular-season games this year and while he primarily played wing and centre, he has the height (190cm), speed, fitness and goalkicking boot to be a long-term fullback option.
Arthars, who will join the Broncos in pre-season from the Gold Coast, is also a major consideration. The 21-year-old can play fullback, wing or centre and leading Intrust Super Cup commentator Scott Sattler believes Arthars would relish the open spaces at the back.
The former Storm and Souths utility back made his NRL debut in 2019 for the Titans, scoring two tries from 12 games and catching the eye of Broncos scouts during the Gold Coast’s 26-18 upset of Brisbane in round 13.
“Jesse reminds me a lot of Matt Gidley, the former Newcastle and Australian player,” said Sattler, the former Queensland Origin lock.
“Gidley had beautiful skill, great feet and that classic flick pass and Jesse moves across the ground superbly.
“I like Jesse in the centres but he’s got great versatility. If the Broncos are looking for a long-term fullback, Arthars has the attacking class to be a good fit in the No.1 jumper.”
CRONK LEAVES NO STONE UNTURNED
Ever the professional, Cooper Cronk is leaving no stone unturned in the pursuit of a premiership swan song.
Blindside can reveal retiring Roosters champion Cronk has placed himself on a booze ban and has overhauled his diet in a bid to steer the Bondi glamour club to back-to-back titles.
Last season, Cronk etched his name into rugby league folklore by playing the 2018 NRL grand final with a broken scapula in one of the most courageous acts in grand final history.
Now, the 35-year-old has shunned the demon drink to ensure tomorrow night’s preliminary final against his former club the Storm at the SCG does not represent his final game in the NRL.
While Cronk is hardly a boozer in the mould of Magpies icon John “Dallas” Donnelly and your typical 1980s Winfield Cup star, the Roosters No.7 is staying away from alcohol completely during this year’s NRL finals.
It is also understood Cronk is also putting his diet under the microscope, carefully monitoring his food intake to have his body in peak condition for the Roosters’ shot at back-to-back titles.
LISTEN UP! Australian entrepreneur John Singleton sits down with Matty Johns. ‘Singo’ has long been involved in rugby league, of course, as Official Patron of the Newtown Jets, and he might not be done just yet.
BATTLE FOR THE NEXT PONGA
A cross-code tug of war is brewing between the NRL and Rugby Australia for the signature of a Gold Coast sensation rated the next Kalyn Ponga.
With his headgear, flashy feet and GPS affiliation, fullback young gun Dion Samuela has become one of the most sought-after properties in Australian sport with several NRL clubs eyeing off the boom 18-year-old.
If you want an insight into Samuela’s talent, type his name into YouTube and watch him go. His sizzling backline incisions, crisp passes and razor-sharp footwork evoke images of Queensland Origin ace Ponga carving up hapless opponents during his schoolboy years at Churchie.
Samuela has been in red-hot form this year for The Southport School (TSS) in the GPS competition and was rewarded with selection in the Australian Schoolboys squad this week for their upcoming tour of New Zealand.
The classy custodian is a member of the Queensland Reds Academy, but a number of NRL scouts are aware of Samuela’s ability and have made preliminary inquiries to poach the teenage attacking whiz.
STORM SIGNING STARRING
This column revealed last month how the Storm had secured the signature of Jack Bowen-Bowyer, the nephew of Cowboys fullback legend Matt Bowen. Since that report, young Jack has been on fire.
He scored four tries a fortnight ago for Brisbane Boys College in the GPS competition, a performance that augurs well in Melbourne’s plan to one day turn him into an NRL star.
BENJI BACKS BABY BRONCO
Is Broncos teenager Tom Dearden up for the challenge of being Brisbane’s next long-term halfback? According to Wests Tigers whiz Benji Marshall, the answer is a resounding yes.
If anyone has an understanding of Dearden’s talent, it is Marshall. During his handy one-year stint at the Broncos in 2017, Marshall was asked to work with a batch of development players. Dearden and Tanah Boyd, who has since joined the Titans, just happened to be in the group.
From the outset, Benji was blown away by Dearden’s maturity for a teenager and his understanding of the technicalities of an NRL playmaking role.
While Marshall accepts Dearden has a long way to go to fulfil his potential, he has no doubt the 18-year-old will become an elite NRL halfback.
Marshall was equally impressed by Boyd. At the time, he rated the Australian Schoolboys playmaker among the most professional rookies he had seen and believes he has the drive to succeed in the NRL.
Marshall himself left for a family holiday to Fiji on Wednesday in good spirits. The Tigers veteran, who turns 35 in February, has agreed to a new one-year club with the club and says the no-nonsense training regimen of coach Michael Maguire has him as fit as ever.
FITNESS GURU ON THE MARKET
Queensland Origin high-performance coach Alex Corvo is back on the market in NRL club land.
Corvo has severed ties with the Warriors after a two-year stint with the club. Corvo played a key role in the Warriors stunning revival to make the finals in 2018 but is looking for new opportunities.
Corvo is one of the most decorated strength-and-conditioning coaches in the game having previously worked with Craig Bellamy at Melbourne and the Broncos before his move across the ditch. Corvo is highly regarded by Queensland coach Kevin Walters and will remain with the Maroons in 2020
PAT CARRIGAN’S MATURITY
Broncos rookie Pat Carrigan is being groomed for Brisbane’s leadership group next season and here’s the evidence that explains why.
On Tuesday, Carrigan was at university completing an exam as part of his physiotherapy degree.
Just days earlier, Carrigan contacted Brisbane’s coaching staff and asked for an off-season weights program to ensure he remains in shape.
At just 21, Carrigan is a class act with the attitude of a 10-year NRL pro. Don’t be surprised to see him captaining the club within the next five years.
GOLD COAST CIRCLING A BIG SIGNING
Titans culture-and-performance chief Mal Meninga is ready to target Storm sensation Tino Fa’asuamaleaui as the battle intensifies for the Queensland under-20s young gun.
Blindside understands the Titans are keen to have a red-hot crack at the 19-year-old Fa’asuamaleaui, who is off-contract at Melbourne next year, meaning he can field formal offers from November 1.
The Warriors are prepared to offer a five-year deal worth $600,000 a season for the 115kg back-row powerhouse, who finished the 2019 season with five NRL games after making his debut against the Dragons in round 16.
Fa’asuamaleaui is happy in Melbourne and the Storm are keen to extend him, but that won’t stop the Titans asking the question as they attempt to pick up the pieces from their disastrous wooden-spoon finish this year.
THURSTON’S LEGACY LIVES ON
Johnathan Thurston’s remarkable Cowboys legacy lives on. His gripping extra-time field goal which sank Brisbane in the 2015 grand final is the stuff of legend and now the epic moment is being brought to life in the world of theatre.
Broncos fans won’t want a bar of it but Cowboys supporters can relive the historic premiership win via The Longest Minute, a theatre production which depicts the lives of a North Queensland family and their joy at Thurston’s heroics.
The show kicks off on NRL grand final eve on Saturday, October 5 at Logan Entertainment Centre.
BRONCOS FANS STILL SEETHING
The fallout from Brisbane’s devastating 58-0 finals loss to Parramatta continues.
Blindside has fielded a number of calls from irate Broncos fans who have pledged to cancel their memberships in the wake of the club’s worst-ever loss. “If Broncos players don’t care, why should we?” said one season ticket-holder.
Not every Broncos member would share such sentiments but it should ring alarm bells for Brisbane bosses, who must launch an aggressive off-season promotional campaign to ease supporter tension.
WATKINS ON NOTICE AT TITANS
Former British Test star Kallum Watkins is under pressure to deliver at the Titans next season.
Blindside understands Watkins is on $280,000 at the Titans and the Gold Coast can’t afford another British flop following their nightmare signing of Dan Sarginson in 2017.
The Titans paid $400,000 for Sarginson, who repaid them with five dismal games and an off-field drama before the Coast shipped him back to England.
Watkins had a shocker against the Knights in his sixth and final game of the 2019 season and needs to lift under new coach Justin Holbrook next year.
RISING
JOHN SUTTON - The retiring Souths veteran stepped up when it mattered most last week, scoring the try that hauled the Bunnies back into the contest against Manly. What a wonderful servant. A true pro.
NELSON ASOFA-SOLOMONA - The Storm prop destroyed the Eels with his rampaging charges, setting up a mouth-watering engine-room clash with the Roosters tomorrow night.
JACK GOSIEWSKI - The Manly back-rower has had a wretched run with injuries in his career but he was outstanding at the back end of the season. Tough as nails and didn’t take a backward step against the Bunnies.
JAHROME HUGHES - Has done a remarkable job stepping up in the foreign halfback position to steer the Storm to within one game of a grand final. A showdown with former Storm No.7 Cooper Cronk tomorrow night will be the biggest test of Hughes’ career.
FALLING
SAM BURGESS - The Souths hardman is a wonderful player but he has lost the plot this season. His “Kangaroo Court” description of the NRL judiciary was a disgrace and showed contempt for officialdom. Just stop whingeing and play great football.
DES HASLER - His childish 10pm rant at NRL football-operations chief Graham Annesley over the Jake Trbojevic affair was out of order. If one of his players was taken out during a try-scoring movement, Hasler would have been blowing up calling for the sin bin to be used.
PARRAMATTA - Went from the penthouse to the outhouse in a stunning 90-point turnaround from the Eels win to the Storm carve-up. Their 32-0 loss in Melbourne showed the Eels have to be mentally tougher on the road in 2020.
WILL CHAMBERS - Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy dropped a bombshell on the eve of the Eels semi-final by benching the Queensland Origin centre. It’s a clear sign Chambers is fighting for his career at the Storm.
Originally published as Blindside: New recruit Jesse Arthars could replace Anthony Milford as Brisbane’s fullback