Sport Confidential: Fans reveal who they want to fill the Brisbane Broncos captaincy vacancy
The Brisbane Broncos fans have revealed who they want to take over from outgoing skipper Alex Glenn. Vote on your preference. Everything you need to know in Sport Confidential.
Opinion
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The Melbourne Storm believe supercoach Craig Bellamy could shelve retirement plans and coach in 2023 and beyond after being reinvigorated by his new-look team.
Bellamy has the Storm on track to claim back-to-back premierships, with Melbourne continuing its 2020 dominance into this year.
Bellamy recently inked a five-year extension with the Storm which gives him the option to transition out of the head-coaching role and into an advisory capacity, provided he gives the club a season‘s notice.
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Bellamy has spoken about retirement several times and there was a view the 62-year-old would quit as head coach at the end of 2022.
But Melbourne figures believe he could soldier on for a further 12 months, with Bellamy enjoying coaching a new brigade of Storm troopers.
This season is the first year Bellamy has coached a team without the legendary Cameron Smith while the likes of Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater moved on years ago.
If Bellamy can win another premiership without any of the “Big Three”, it will be another feather in his cap and vindicate his claim to being the greatest coach of the past 20 years.
Bellamy said while the Storm‘s Covid relocation to Queensland for the second year in a row was challenging, the current group of Melbourne players were enjoyable to coach.
“I still feel a touch burnt out at times in the situation we’re in,” he said.
“They’re a great group of guys up here. I know some of them are going through difficult times as well.
“They’re such an easy bunch of guys to get on with, but also work really hard and have got a great care for each other, which is a really important factor in any successful team in sport or any walk of life.
“They have been a really good group to work with and we’ve enjoyed some success this year, which makes it a bit easier.
“The group are very united and that’s what we’re seeing on the field at the moment. We can’t fault their effort.”
REYNOLDS HAS SUPPORT FOR BRONCOS TOP JOB
Wayne Bennett has rubbished suggestions Adam Reynolds is a risky buy for Brisbane as the push grows for the Souths maestro to captain the Broncos next season.
Alex Glenn‘s retirement on Thursday has created a vacancy for the Broncos captaincy and a News Corp poll has thrown up Brisbane recruit Reynolds as the standout leadership successor in 2022.
In a landslide win, 74 per cent of league fans believe Reynolds should be Brisbane‘s captain in his first season at Red Hill next year, with the likes of Pat Carrigan and Payne Haas (both 10pc) and Jake Turpin (2pc) well behind.
There are concerns as to whether Reynolds, 32 next year, will see out a three-year deal at the Broncos, but Rabbitohs super coach Bennett says the cheeky halfback can lead a Brisbane finals resurgence.
“Adam will be wonderful for the Broncos,” he said.
“If you watch him play at the moment, he is not on the wane. He will bring a lot of things to the Broncos.
“If the Broncos are putting the finals all on Reynolds‘ shoulders, that would be unfair, but there’s no doubt he will be an asset for the club.
“He‘s had no major issues for the past few years and has been great in my time at Souths. There is no injury where he can’t do certain things at training, he is always capable of doing what’s required.
“Adam is a tough bloke ... I have no concerns about him seeing out his deal with the Broncos.”
NO FUEL ON THE FIRE FOR WALKER
Firehawks bid chief Shane Richardson believes Cody Walker can play NRL until the age of 40, but insists he will not be igniting a poaching raid on the South Sydney maestro.
Walker is in serious contention for this year‘s Dally M Medal and his career resurrection began in the Intrust Super Cup at the Easts Tigers, who are bankrolling the Firehawks’ bid to become the NRL’s 17th team.
Richardson has strong ties with Walker from his time as Souths football boss. Walker is off-contract at the end of next year, making him a perfect target for the NRL‘s three expansion hopefuls, but Richardson says the classy playmaker will not be the Firehawks’ first signing.
“I think Souths will keep Cody Walker,” he said. ”They understand the value of Cody, not only to the team but the club itself. Souths are an Indigenous club and Cody is an Indigenous leader. I would like to see Cody finish his career at Souths.
“It would be too hard to get Cody out of Souths. He is not a Queensland kid and let‘s face it, Cody has settled down at Souths because he is among family and friends in that region.
“The best thing for Cody is to stay at Souths. I don‘t want them thinking I’m trying to poach Cody because I’m not.
“I honestly think Cody can play NRL until he is 40. He has been so durable and like many great Indigenous players, he is very wiry and knows how to protect his body in contact situations.
“Cody is very similar to Cliffy Lyons (Manly legend), who was better at the back end of his career.
“Cody has turned into a ‘BAT’ — a Born Again Trainer. He wasn‘t always a great trainer but since coming to Souths, he has become an outstanding trainer and a leader at training. His durability is so much better because he is a great trainer.”
SPECIAL K EYEING RETIREMENT
Karmichael Hunt‘s remarkable 17-year career is set to come to an end with the reborn Broncos veteran tipped to retire at season’s end.
Hunt made a stunning return to the Broncos this season after 12 years away from Red Hill, but Brisbane have decided against offering another deal to the multi-code sporting legend for next year.
Hunt turns 35 in November and while he may yet play on next season with feeder-club Souths Logan in the Intrust Super Cup, his days in the top echelons of sport are over.
The former Waratahs, Wallabies and AFL Gold Coast Suns star is keen to move into the world of coaching and several young Broncos players have been blown away by his experience and behind-the-scenes mentoring at training.
SHOOSH
Which NRL side has major issues with their playing squad and recruitment chief? The club in question must act quickly to iron out any off-field ructions.
THE WRIGHT MOVE FOR COWBOY
Cowboys back-rower Shane Wright will quit North Queensland at season‘s end after signing a two-year deal with English club Salford.
The 25-year-old has played 41 games for the Cowboys since his NRL debut in 2017 and has enjoyed his best season this year, amassing 16 matches as a starting back-rower under new coach Todd Payten.
But with Wright struggling to secure a new deal in Townsville, the hard-working forward has decided to head overseas for a stint in the English Super League.
Wright will be joined by Broncos halfback Brodie Croft, who last week inked a two-year deal with the Red Devils.
BRONCOS STAR SIGNINGS ON LEAVE
High-profile Broncos recruits Adam Reynolds and Kurt Capewell may not be spotted at Red Hill until well into the pre-season.
Reynolds and Capewell are Brisbane’s two biggest signings for 2022 but it may be some time before coach Kevin Walters can get his hands on the duo.
Reynolds’ Rabbitohs and Capewell’s Panthers are tipped to go deep into the NRL premiership race.
They will then be allowed to take their annual leave, with Reynolds’ 10 seasons of service entitling him to a longer break.
Given they won’t play finals, the Broncos are due to report for pre-season training in early November.
They would love to have Reynolds on board as soon as possible given the crafty halfback will be an integral part of the way the team plays next year.
But he may only appear shortly before Christmas, unless he wants to cut his holiday short and get stuck into training early.
BRONCOS CONTINUE SIGNING SPREE
The Broncos‘ aggressive recruitment drive has continued with the club securing utility back Jesse Arthars.
Arthars has inked a two-year extension that will see him provide handy backline back-up until 2023.
His deal has already been registered by the NRL, but is yet to be announced by the Broncos.
The Auckland-born Arthars is still only 23 and has played 17 games for the Broncos since his decision to quit the Titans at the end of 2019.
Arthars is a speedy outside back capable of playing fullback, wing and centre and has done a serviceable job this season filling the void during Kotoni Staggs‘ extended time on the sidelines with a knee injury.
NRL TICKET PRICE SHOCK
The NRL has been accused of price gouging rugby league fans in regional Queensland after setting outrageous prices to watch a bottom eight game in Rockhampton.
League fans wanting to see a rare slice of the NRL in Rocky this weekend will have to fork out at least $55 for a general admission ticket to watch the Tigers and Sharks on Saturday afternoon.
Tickets go up to $100 for reserved seating, with children (5-17) costing $33 for general admission to Browne Park.
Given the appetite for the NRL in the town, there is sure to be plenty of interest, but the pricing seems to be on the high side.
LEE COUSINS GO MISSING
They were Queensland heroes last year but cousins Brenko and Edrick Lee have dropped off the face of the NRL planet this season.
The Lee duo combined for a slice of State of Origin history when they debuted together in last year’s decider and played sensational games to help Queensland clinch a memorable series victory.
Their Origin heroics came after Brenko secured his first NRL premiership with the Melbourne Storm while Edrick played 11 games for the Knights, including an appearance in week one of the finals.
However neither of them have been sighted in the NRL this year.
Brenko has battled a range of calf and hamstring injuries and only made a handful of appearances for the Brisbane Tigers in the Intrust Super Cup.
Edrick has been struggling with a serious foot problem and hasn’t played a game this year.
Brenko will join the Brisbane Broncos next season and will be hoping for a bit more luck on the injury front while Edrick does not have an NRL contract for 2022 at this stage.
TITANS AWARDS GAFFE
The Gold Coast Titans have bizarrely scheduled their annual awards ceremony during the first week of the NRL finals.
The Titans are well in the hunt to play finals football for the first time since 2016, but the club will host its Paul Broughton Medal ceremony on Thursday, September 9.
If the Titans do qualify for the play-offs, they could find themselves playing an elimination final two days later.
It would be a strange way for the team to prepare for the club’s biggest game in five years.
The Brisbane Broncos will also host their Paul Morgan Medal count on the same night as the Titans, however they have no chance of playing finals.
JACKS COMEBACK FOILED
Rugby league journeyman Ryley Jacks has been robbed of an NRL return by the game’s bubble protocols.
Jacks has only made one NRL appearance this season for the Storm and didn’t make the club’s 30-man squad that relocated to Queensland.
He has been in Brisbane and the Storm looked to loan him to St George Illawarra for the back end of the season, only for the deal to be knocked on the head by the NRL.
RIVALS MEET IN HOSPITAL
Titans fullback AJ Brimson and Raiders hooker Tom Starling bumped into each other at a Gold Coast hospital this week.
Brimson and Starling both suffered broken jaws last weekend and were booked in for surgery on the same day.
They met each other in the recovery room between operations.
Both their seasons are over.
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