NRL 2020: Brisbane Broncos cultural revolution inspired by All Blacks, and a book
The Broncos old boys have hit upon a distinctive way for the club to restore high cultural standards which have slipped in recent winters. And they have one of the world’s greatest sporting teams to thank.
Broncos
Don't miss out on the headlines from Broncos. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Broncos old boys have followed the lead of the incomparable All Blacks in a bid to make Brisbane great again.
The club’s old boys have started work on a book they plan to give to each new Bronco at the club in the way James Kerr’s exceptional work, Legacy, is handed to new All Blacks.
The old boys feel it is a way of ensuring the club restores high cultural standards which have slipped in recent winters.
Kayo is your ticket to the 2020 NRL Telstra Premiership. Every game of every round Live & On-Demand with no-ad breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
“When I saw the All Blacks book I just thought what a wonderful idea it was,’’ said Broncos Old Boys president and former Test centre Chris Johns.
“You have to admire the way that every kid in New Zealand just strives to be an All Black. That’s not the same in America where kids might be interested in NFL, basketball or other sports and nor it is the case in Australia.
“But when the Broncos started they did that really well for the first 10 years. You sensed every kid in Queensland wanted to be Kevin Walters or Allan Langer.
“The thing about the All Blacks is that they know their history and cherish it. They have a great appreciation of what went before them. We want players in the book to tell us what the Broncos meant to them.’’
The club’s foundation football manager Bob Cutmore is involved in the project and said 11 of the Broncos captains would be profiled along with inspiring individual stories like utility back Mick de Vere.
“We will tell great stories like Mick writing a letter to Wayne Bennett saying “I want to be a Bronco – I think you can make me a better player,’’ Cutmore said.
“We will hand the book to new players and they will see that they are custodians of club’s standards and, like the All Blacks, you want to leave the team better for your involvement.
“It’s great having old boys who have strong opinions about the game and are prepared to say them but it is important we can also work behind the scenes as well in projects like this to ensure players leave the game in good shape.’’
MORE NRL NEWS
NRL 2020: Maroons star Gavin Cooper announces his retirement
NRL 2020: Brisbane Broncos’ under siege from Lions, Reds in cross-code war
NRL 2020: Whinging Broncos highlights culture crisis at Brisbane
Legacy, released in 2013, was considered one of the finest sports books of its era as Kerr gained unprecedented access behind the normally unbreachable curtain around the world’s most successful sporting team to reveal 15 powerful lessons about leadership, legacies and how to run a team.
Foundation owner Barry Maranta has already written the foreword to the Broncos book.