Former Broncos forward backflips on deal to play for Northern Pride

A former Brisbane Broncos-contracted forward has backflipped on his deal with Queensland Cup club Northern Pride to defect to rugby union.

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A former Brisbane Bronco has backflipped on his deal with Queensland Cup club Northern Pride to defect to rugby.

George Fai was one of the Pride’s prized signings for the 2020 season, set to lead a forward pack featuring two-time Queensland Rangers representative Taulata Fakalelu, American international Joe Eichner and former Penrith Panther Nick Lui-Toso.

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But Fai, who has played two NRL games for the Broncos, one each in 2017 and 2018, will instead take up an offer with the Queensland Reds.

Pride football operations manager Chey Bird said

“It’s left a bit of a dent in our forward stocks but where one door closes, another door opens,” Bird said.

“We’ve been pretty active in trying to correct that little blip in the radar so hopefully, again in the next few days we’ll have some more information.”

George Fai at Broncos training at Red Hill. Pic Annette Dew

Fai has played 77 Queensland Cup games for Souths Logan Magpies since his debut in 2015.

The Logan brothers junior played 19 games for the club this year, sent to the Magpies by the Broncos coaching staff to get back into shape.

It was expected Fai would lead the Pride’s forward pack as the Barlow Park looked to bounce back after a historically poor Queensland Cup season.

The Pride won just four games, a record low, but had recruited strongly around a pack led by 23-year-old Fai.

Bird said the club was in a position to recruit a replacement, but would not rush into a decision on a new prop.

“While it’s unfortunate - for a period of time you thought you had your marquee,” Bird said. “But at the end of the day the player has to be 100 per cent comfortable with the decision they’re making.

NORTHERN PRIDE CLOSE IN ON DEAL FOR A KING

“We wished him the best of luck and hopefully we can see him part of rebuilding the Reds and getting them back into a successful arena.

“We’ve got an ability to go to market and hopefully as NRL clubs finalise their rosters, hopefully there’s a few fringe guys who are just missing out and we’re in a position to swoop on them.

“We’re in no hurry to make a rash decision. We need to make sure the decision suits our club, our region, and the coaching philosophy.”

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Originally published as Former Broncos forward backflips on deal to play for Northern Pride