Blindside: Margaux Parker’s Broncos announcement revealed

It was touted as the biggest Brisbane Broncos announcement in history and was set to be revealed yesterday morning on Triple M by Margaux Parker – this is why it wasn’t.

BRONCOS legend Corey Parker is set to come out of retirement for the upcoming NRL Nines.

Blindside can reveal the Broncos have explored the possibility of Parker pulling on a Brisbane jersey again in next month’s nine-a-side tournament.

Parker, 37, retired in 2016 after playing 347 NRL games for the Broncos, second only to Darren Lockyer’s 355.

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The former Queensland Origin forward has stayed supremely fit since retiring and is a member of Anthony Seibold’s coaching staff at the Broncos.

The Nines will be played in Perth on February 14-15, the same weekend the Broncos play a trial match against the CQ Capras in Rockhampton.

The Broncos are hoping Parker can be a member of their Nines squad given their 36-man roster will be stretched across two commitments.

Margaux Parker promised a big reveal on Thursday morning. Picture: AAP/Steve Pohlner

Parker’s news comes after his wife Margaux claimed to have the biggest story in Broncos history and was ready to drop the “bombshell” during Thursday’s Triple M breakfast show.

“You’re going to want to tune in from 7am because I have got the biggest news to come out of Broncos headquarters....like, ever,” Margaux said in a promo video on Wednesday night.

But eager listeners were let down on Thursday morning when Margaux backflipped on the promise and didn’t reveal anything.

Blindside understands Margaux copped some backlash after her promotion and got cold feet.

JT’S NFL FLING

JOHNATHAN Thurston has swapped the Steeden for a pig skin.

Thurston will lead a group of 12 people to next month’s Super Bowl in Miami.

The Queensland league legend has been chosen to lead the tour hosted by Major Events Company and is thrilled to be heading to one of the world’s biggest sporting events.

“He takes his hosting role very seriously,” tour organiser Adam Wilcox said.

“He is very excited about the tour and can’t wait to get over there.”

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Thurston will host an intimate welcome dinner for the tour guests on the first night of the three-night trip.

The guests will attend Shaquille O’Neal’s VIP party the following night before attending the Super Bowl on the last night.

Tickets for JT’s tour are about $15,000 for what is regarded as a bucket list trip for many Aussie sports fans.

Broncos coach Anthony Seibold during a Brisbane team training session last week. Picture: AAP Image/Glenn Hunt

TRAVELLING BRONCOS CIRCUS

THE Broncos have become camp experts this pre-season.

Coach Anthony Seibold will oversee his third camp of the pre-season when the entire Broncos squad heads to Twin Waters on the Sunshine Coast next week.

The Broncos already completed an army-style boot camp in Toowoomba before Christmas and next week’s camp will have a football focus.

Seibold took the Broncos’ leadership group to Tasmania for a bonding camp in November and he has also been on a fact-finding mission to America with head of football Peter Nolan and commercial boss Dan Glass.

Blindside recently reported that Seibold toured the hugely popular Cirque du Soleil set-up while in America.

He must be quite the fan as he was also spotted at the Brisbane show Kurious last Friday night.

Former FFA CEO David Gallop with his wife Kathy. Picture: Aaron Francis/The Australian

GALLOP TAKES A SPELL

FORMER NRL chief David Gallop has been enjoying himself after leaving his post as the boss of Football Federation Australia.

Blindside spies spotted Gallop relaxing on the beautiful north coast of NSW and indulging at the famous Minnie Water General Store.

Gallop completed a near eight-year tenure as the boss of FFA in December and is yet to reveal where his next move will be.

He has been touted as a potential commissioner for the ARLC after leading the NRL for 10 years.

Kobe Hetherington during training late last year. Picture: AAP Image/Richard Gosling

KOBE SHOOTS TO SCORE

THE son of a Queensland Origin legend is pushing to make his NRL debut this year.

Jason Hetherington’s son Kobe has been training hard with the Brisbane Broncos during the pre-season.

Kobe has been around the traps for the past few years but has impressed many with his efforts this summer.

His father played eight games for the Maroons from 1998-2000 and was one of the game’s genuine tough guys.

BURNS PROCTOR

TITANS forward Kevin Proctor has produced one of the great sledges.

Proctor was asked to describe the impact new assistant coaches Jim Dymock and Jim Lenihan had made on the club.

“Jimmy Lenihan is a character and brings all the energy at training,” Proctor said.

“I like his style of attack. He’s pretty smart, he doesn’t really look too smart, but he’s quite switched on.”

Lenihan must have some smarts about him after guiding Burleigh to two Intrust Super Cup premierships in the past four years.

AB de Villiers signs autographs for fans at the Gabba. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

A-BSOLUTE B-EST

THE Gabba ground announcer left no-one in doubt as to where he ranks Brisbane Heat star recruit AB de Villiers.

De Villiers made his long-awaited Big Bash debut in Tuesday’s seven-wicket win against the Adelaide Strikers.

The South African legend lived up to the hype with a classy 40 from 32 balls to guide the Heat to a comfortable victory.

And he received an outstanding welcome when the ground announcer introduced the Heat’s team before the game.

“The greatest batsman in the world,” was shouted over the loudspeaker.

While de Villiers is an undisputed champion, the likes of Virat Kohli, Steve Smith and even Marnus Labuschagne may have something to say about that.

De Villiers was stunned that nearly 20,000 people turned out at the Gabba on Tuesday afternoon to watch his debut.

But the scheduling of the game, a 2.40pm start to avoid clashing with Australia’s ODI against India, robbed the Heat of up to another 10,000 fans.

The Heat are hoping for a packed house at the Gabba on Sunday night against the Renegades.