Ex-Bronco benefactor now pushing to get Brisbane Bombers in to NRL shows plenty of backbone

Craig Davison, a chief driver of the Bombers’ NRL bid, recently endured a 12-hour operation and a 46cm cobalt chrome rod inserted in his back. His ambitious club aren’t short of steel, either. WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGE.

Bombers director Craig Davison remains hopeful that his club can reach the NRL sooner rather than later.

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Thirty four hours of surgery and a $40,000 chrome rod in his back will not stop one man's decade long crusade to have a second NRL team in Brisbane.

Craig Davison, former Broncos benefactor turned director of the Brisbane Bombers franchise campaigning for inclusion in an expanded NRL, can only wish the team he hopes to form will have as much backbone as he has.

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After three unsuccessful attempts spanning 22 hours, Davison recently underwent a successful 12-hour surgery with Sydney-based Dr Rao in May to, among other things, insert a 46cm cobalt chrome rod in his back.

Bombers director Craig Davison remains hopeful that his club can reach the NRL sooner rather than later.

He has returned home and is walking with the aid of crutches in the first stage of what shapes as a lengthy but initially positive rehabilitation.

Davison’s back midway through his 12-hour operation.

"I am telling people I have some French in me because the rod came from France,'' said Davison, formerly a key force in the Broncos thoroughbreds which provided off field mentorship to many of the club's stars.

"It is such a relief to be able to stand up straight. I am very grateful to the doctors. Over the years I have had so many X-rays where I had to work so hard to stand up straight and it was hard to breathe and but three days post operation I had a x-ray and stood up straight and breathed easily and thought "wow.''

The Bombers, with chief executive Nick Livermore doing the heavy lifting, have shown admirable perseverance to sit in the NRL waiting room for a decade as the competition dithers about expansion.

League boss Peter V'landys has made pulses quicken by flagging a 2022 inclusion for a 17th team but the Bombers have learnt never to get ahead of themselves.

"Back in 2014 the NRL certainly alluded to a number of things to us and basically said ‘get ready’ then things fell apart,’’ Davison said.

"Things were said to us back then which we wanted to hear rather than the truth. I am as keen as ever but I must give credit to Nick because he is really taking the project by the throat.''

Davison is adamant the new Brisbane team should be a fresh brand rather than an Intrust Super Cup team like Redcliffe or Easts because it needs to "embrace the whole community.''

The Bombers have been in contact with master coach Craig Bellamy and will attempt to lure him back to Brisbane if they get the nod.

"I have known Craig for many years at the Broncos and the Storm and he is happy to look at what might come up. If you get someone like Bellamy on side then who knows?’’