The Inside Mail: Home of all the hottest NRL news and gossip

THE INSIDE MAIL: Their gear is good enough for Olympic sprint king Usain Bolt but some Broncos players have kicked the club’s boot sponsors into touch.

The Courier-Mail’s rugby league team, from left, Rikki-Lee Arnold, Peter Badel and Travis Meyn.

• Taumalolo keen to maintain the rage
• Why Sims took $150k hit to be a Bronco
• TPJ wants to be the new Raging Bull
• Henry holds the key to Hayne

PUMA’s gear is good enough for Usain Bolt but their boots have been kicked into touch by Broncos players.

Inside Mail can reveal Brisbane’s lucrative new sponsorship with the footwear giant is in jeopardy as Broncos stars go cold on the brand that has brokered a $30 million deal with Olympic sprint king Bolt.

Broncos players reported for pre-season wearing shiny new Puma boots but in recent weeks the brand has gradually disappeared at Red Hill. Several have blown up about the quality of the boots and are refusing to use them.

One forward threw his new boots in the rubbish bin after they fell apart in a week.

Players who had private boot contracts with other brands were permitted to honour their existing deals. Some Broncos are still using the Puma boots, but others have discarded them, opting for rivals adidas, Asics and Nike.

The Broncos had a long association with kit supplier Nike, but severed those ties over summer, opting for local manufacturing of their famous jersey.

STORM CLOUDS EASE

MELBOURNE have staved off a raid from the Broncos and Titans to secure the services of Queensland Origin hopeful Christian Welch.

Welch has knocked back overtures from the Queensland clubs and agreed to a two-year deal with the Storm.

Melbourne’s retention drive gathered momentum yesterday when chief enforcer Jesse Bromwich signed a three-year upgrade. They have more work to do as NRL rivals circle off-contract trio Jordan McLean, Dale Finucane and Will Chambers.

Christian Welch has agreed to a two-year deal with the Storm. Picture: Getty Images

The Cowboys are going hard for McLean, hoping to clinch his signature within weeks.

Storm skipper Cameron Smith is concerned the club’s forward pack could be ripped apart.

Welch, who played in last year’s NRL grand final, was firmly in the sights of the Broncos and Titans, who were keen to add the 22-year-old to their front-row rotation.

Brisbane’s offer was more lucrative than Melbourne’s, but the 105kg, 195cm prop stayed loyal.

SCOTT FIRMS TO STAY

THE Cowboys are supremely confident Matt Scott will stay in Townsville for the rest of his career.

Cowboys co-captain Matt Scott. Picture: AAP

Scott is being chased by Newcastle, who are prepared to pay big dollars to lure the Test and Origin prop south to mentor their young squad. The money is attractive but so is finishing his career as a one-club player.

The Cowboys may not be able to match Newcastle’s offer but they will get close and are confident Scott will stay. Club insiders were not feeling the same way about Kalyn Ponga when Newcastle chased him and they were right. Expect Scott to sign a contract that will see him finish his career in Cowboys colours. Fans would have been devastated to see the north Queensland product wearing a different jersey.

HENRY TALKS TOUGH

JARRYD Hayne may be the Titans’ star signing but he is not getting special treatment from coaching staff in his turbulent start to the season.

It is understood Titans assistant coach Terry Matterson did not mince words with Hayne during last week’s first-half debacle against the Roosters.

Head coach Neil Henry did the same after the game, while pundits lashed Hayne for his below-par opening to Gold Coast’s campaign.

Henry should be applauded for his treatment of Hayne. The two-time Dally M winner’s other coaches have made concessions to satisfy Hayne, but Henry is demanding he buy into the club’s one-in, all-in culture. The Titans board pushed hard for Hayne’s signing last year to give the club a marquee player and the coaching staff are trying to make it work.

ADELE OF A START

HAYNE is not the only reason Gold Coast Titans CEO Graham Annesley is Rolling In The Deep.

Rumour Has It Annesley and wife Erica were spotted at Adele’s concert at the Gabba on Sunday night enjoying some corporate hospitality.

It was a rare night off for Annesley, who seems to never stop Chasing Pavements at the Titans.

Annesley was instrumental in bringing Hayne to the Gold Coast, but after the drama of the past few days you wouldn’t blame him for saying: “Never mind, I’ll find someone like you.”

Maybe the Titans will find peace with Hayne and it will all just be Water Under the Bridge one day.

CALLING ALL TITANS

IT MAY only be Round 2, but the Titans are already getting close to the bottom of the barrel for players.

If co-captain Kevin Proctor (shoulder) is rubbed out of Saturday’s game against the Knights, coach Neil Henry may have to blood Max King.

Young Titan Max King. Picture: AAP

The Titans have gone into the season low on depth. They only have a handful of players in reserve grade who are ready for an NRL call-up.

Their back-up front-row stocks include Eddy Pettybourne, Paterika Vaivai, Morgan Boyle and Kurt Bernard. None are screaming for an NRL promotion. Hooker Nathan Peats (shoulder) is still at least a month away, as is utility Ryan Simpkins (ribs).

Henry’s best 17 is capable of challenging the top sides in the competition but when injuries mount, as they always do throughout a gruelling season, the Titans could be exposed. Look for them to add one or two players to their roster before the June 30 transfer deadline.

FOOTY CALLERS IN A SPIN

THE Titans had an unexpected spectator at their NRL season-opener against the Roosters last Saturday.

Former England Test spinner Monty Panesar was in the stands at Cbus Super Stadium. Panesar stunned the ABC Grandstand calling team when he popped into their box. His first question: “What’s happening in the cricket?”

Panesar worked with spinner Steve O’Keefe before the India tour.

Panesar is playing grade cricket in Sydney and has developed a love for the Roosters. He travelled to the Gold Coast to watch them win.

HALA HEADS OFF

FORMER Titans and Broncos forward David Hala has reportedly given away rugby league for the time being.

The 27-year-old returned to his junior club Redcliffe at the end of last season when the Gold Coast let him go. It is understood Hala could not handle the demands of working and playing. Rugby league had to go.

Inside Mail was told he could not get a job that allowed him to train and play and Hala has a family to support so he has left the Dolphins.

coach all the rage

ONE Intrust Super Cup coach is gaining quite a reputation for having an explosive temper.

At a Round 1 clash on the weekend, some injured players could be heard joking about their coach while watching their side play. Every time the team made a mistake, the group on the sidelines would try to predict what their coach’s reaction would be and whether the various incidents would be brought up in team meetings.

LODGE’S GOOD IMPRESSION

MATT Lodge made his Redcliffe debut at the weekend and while he is still on a media ban, Inside Mail understands the troubled forward is doing his best to put his past behind him. Lodge is working with local high school teams and even coached the Year 7 side in a Nines competition last week.