NRL 2016: Brisbane Broncos captain still in the dark but Sam Thaiday wants the job

AS Wayne Bennett keeps the entire Brisbane team in the dark about who will be the club’s new leader, a star player has put his hand up for the captaincy.

Sam Thaiday. Broncos training at UQ. Pics Tim Marsden

SAM Thaiday wants to captain the Broncos again but Wayne Bennett is keeping the entire team in the dark, refusing to even hint at who his preferred leader is.

Thaiday will be included in Brisbane’s NRL Nines team and told The Courier-Mail that he is captaining the side.

That honour would position him as a strong contender for the role that was taken from him at the start of 2014.

Thaiday inherited the captaincy from Darren Lockyer for the 2012 season and said during his two-year reign that the role was “drowning” him.

Anthony Griffin convinced Thaiday he was better without the responsibility at the start of the 2014 season and Corey Parker and Justin Hodges became co-captains.

Fast forward to 2016 and Thaiday feels he is ready to lead Brisbane again.

Parker and Ben Hunt are now the only rivals to Thaiday reclaiming the position, after Darius Boyd declared he didn’t want it.

Bennett knows who he wants to be captain but has not told any of the players.

Thaiday said he couldn’t even tell who Bennett’s preference was.

“I am captain for the Auckland Nines team but that’s all I know,” Thaiday told The Courier-Mail.

Sam Thaiday wants to be Broncos captain again. Picture: Tim Marsden

“Wayne hasn’t spoken to anyone yet about that to my knowledge.

“We will probably all find out the week before round one.

“It is a fantastic role and honour being captain but if I don’t get it I’m not going to cry over spilt milk.

“If I do receive the call-up I would be more than honoured and very happy.

“I am not seeing Wayne favour anyone at the moment. He’s trying to push all of us as hard as he can.

“No one know what Wayne is thinking.”

Sam Thaiday took over from Darren Lockyer as Broncos captain in 2012. Picture: Annette Dew

Thaiday was speaking from western Queensland during a Broncos tour of the region’s schools as part of an education series in conjunction with sponsor Arrow Energy.

Thaiday was asked by the children repeatedly about the Mitchell Pearce scandal, a sharp reminder of how perceptive children are to their hero’s errors.

“You always get a few curly ones. You just try to deal with those questions as best you can,” Thaiday said.

Ben Hunt is another contender to captain the Broncos. Picture: Annette Dew

“Kids go through so much within school these days, in terms of bullying and if we can talk to them about mental well-being and trying to find something that makes you happy it will hopefully help.”

The Broncos will take a forward-heavy team to the Nines this weekend with Alex Glenn and Adam Blair already confirmed.

“Me and Blairy have been coming up with some trick plays so it should be fun,” Thaiday said.