NRL 2021: Kurt Capewell reveals desire to help turn Brisbane Broncos into a premiership force

Many people think Kurt Capewell is mad for quitting the red-hot Panthers to join the struggling Broncos next season. But the Queensland Origin utility is determined to make Brisbane great again.

Kurt Capewell will join the Broncos next season. Picture: Josh Woning/Getty Images

Queensland Origin utility Kurt Capewell has defended his decision to quit the Panthers and has outlined his plan to take the battling Broncos from the outhouse to the NRL penthouse next season.

Capewell’s future will flash before his eyes when the Panthers forward faces his club-in-waiting the Broncos in Saturday night’s Brisbane-Penrith showdown at Suncorp Stadium.

To many, Capewell is mad for walking away from a red-hot Panthers side on the cusp of a premiership dynasty to join a struggling Broncos outfit that crashed to the first wooden-spoon in the club’s 33-year history last season.

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But while he is content at a Penrith club that could deliver him a maiden premiership ring this season, the Queensland DNA in Capewell is motivated by the challenge of resurrecting the Broncos as a title force.

“I would love to win a premiership for the club, it would be awesome,” said Capewell, who last month signed a three-year deal with the Broncos.

Kurt Capewell has been outstanding for the high-flying Panthers.

“I mulled over the decision (to quit Penrith) for a long time.

“Leaving a club as great as Penrith in their premiership window, with the great players they have on their roster, was a tough decision. But I have family in Brisbane and Toowoomba and that was an attraction, being closer to family and friends in Brisbane.

“The Broncos are a great club. They are such a strong club with a rich history and they are heading in the right direction.

“It was the perfect opportunity for me to come back to Queensland and I’m lucky to do it at such a proud club.

“As a Queensland kid growing up, I have a soft spot for the Broncos. I remember watching how successful the Broncos were and while they have struggled over the last few years, I want to be part of turning them around.

“In a football sense, I want to be part of something special at the Broncos — I want to make Brisbane a top-four club again.

“The Broncos should never be anywhere else but the top four, so I want to be a part of it and get the club back up to where it needs to be.”

Part of the restoration of the Broncos lies in addressing the one percenters that separate the premiership contenders from the title pretenders.

That’s where Capewell comes in. The 28-year-old Charleville product is renowned for his professionalism and understands the systems of winning clubs after his time at Penrith and the Sharks, who won the premiership in 2016.

“I plan on bringing my game and sharing my knowledge with the younger boys who could be missing a little bit in those areas in terms of professionalism,” he said.

“I am looking forward to the challenge of moving to a new team and establishing myself as a leader at the Broncos and teaching some of the younger boys the stuff I have picked up along the way from guys like Luke Lewis, Wade Graham and Paul Gallen.

The Broncos believe Kurt Capewell will bring a more professional edge to the club.

“Those guys at the Sharks instilled good habits in my game and I hope I can pass them on.

“It’s all the little stuff that the fans probably don’t see. The good coaches in the NRL notice what the good clubs do.

“The one thing I have learnt from Penrith is that the one percenters mean everything. That’s the key to building a premiership club and hopefully I can bring that attitude to the Broncos.”

Capewell was 18th man in Cronulla’s premiership triumph and is desperate to go all the way this year after the Panthers’ grand-final loss to the Storm last season.

“It’s definitely motivation (losing last year),” he said.

“We had a successful year last year but it sort of feels like it doesn‘t mean too much unless you win a comp at the end.

“To not come away with a premiership at the end of the year, it does break your heart a little bit. But it‘s been a driving factor for us this year and I would love to win a premiership to finish up here before I join the Broncos.”