NRL 2021: Dragons recruit Andrew McCullough never wanted to leave Broncos

Andrew McCullough never wanted to leave the Broncos - and they didn’t want to let him go. So why did the hooker end up in Sydney?

Andrew McCullough leaves Red Hill for the last time. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty

Andrew McCullough will have just one training run with his St George Illawarra teammates before donning his new colours in a pre-season hitout on Thursday.

McCullough will line-up alongside former Broncos teammates Jack Bird and Tariq Sims after a whirlwind few weeks for the 31-year-old who made the gut-wrenching decision to leave Brisbane and take up a three year deal with the Dragons.

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Andrew McCullough has hit the ground running at the Dragons. Pic Peter Wallis

“I was fighting with my heart and my head which is quite difficult,” McCullough said. “They were telling me ‘we don’t want you to go’ so telling them ‘no I have to’ was hard. I spoke with Kev (Walters) and had multiple meetings with him and other people from the Broncos. I had to put the emotion to one side. Kev understood that.

“When both sides say they want you and it’s up to you to make the call, that’s when it becomes difficult. I was tossing and turning over for a while. It wasn’t like the Broncos wanted me to leave and it wasn’t like I wanted out. It was one of those things that came about.

“The offer being three years and the Broncos being unable to look further down the track, I knew what was best for me and my family. I had some really hard sleepless night. Moments I was unsure about. It was really hard.”

Andrew McCullough leaves Red Hill for the last time. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty

Discussions between McCullough and the Dragons started pre-Christmas but heated up in the new year. It was on-again-off-again before the parties eventually came to an agreement last week. He will rekindle his relationship with coach Anthony Griffin as well as good friend Ben Hunt.

“I know Hook (Griffin) well and I know what to expect,” McCullough said. “We’ve got a relationship where he tells me straight.

“(With Hunt) it’s just an understanding. That comes off the back of knowing each other since we were 11. I know what he is doing or when he wants something. He has a big role and expectations so I want to take pressure off him and get him to play his natural game.”

A sojourn last year away from Brisbane also helped sway the Queensland-raised McCullough’s decision. He thrived during his short-stint at the Knights which offered a different perspective for McCullough and his wife Carlie.

McCullough’s stay in Newcastle ended with a significant hamstring injury. He said he is feeling “really strong” and will train with his Dragons teammates on Wednesday before taking to the field in a restricted trial against the Eels at Netstrata Jubilee Oval.

Andrew McCullough had a tough time at the Knights. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

The Dragons team will also feature Bird with the duo expected to play about 20 minutes after a long lay-off.

McCullough’s arrival has been made even more important following the season-ending injury to Cameron McInnes.

“It’s more so just getting out there and having a game,” McCullough said. “I’m going to get things wrong and plays wrong. I rather do that now than in a couple of weeks and get things wrong in games.

“It’s a good opportunity to play and blow my lungs and legs out and make a few mistakes. Cam has been a really big part of this club and is well liked by the boys and local people. He is going to be a big loss.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Dragons recruit Andrew McCullough never wanted to leave Broncos