NRL in Las Vegas: Brisbane Broncos recruit Fletcher Baker vows to takedown former Rooster teammates
Broncos recruit Fletcher Baker will have a golden chance to show the Roosters what they lost in Las Vegas, setting up a spicy rematch against his ex-teammates after labelling them ‘bullies’.
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Fletcher Baker has declared he wants to be Brisbane’s new Tom Flegler as the Broncos recruit vowed to muscle up to the Roosters’ big-name pack of “bullies” in Las Vegas on Sunday (AEDT).
Baker will make his Broncos debut against his former club and his showdown with Roosters firebrands Lindsay Collins, Spencer Leniu and Victor Radley will be one of the spicy narratives of the NRL double header at Allegiant Stadium.
Stuck on the bench at the Roosters, Baker made the switch to Brisbane in the off-season and the hulking prop gets a golden chance to show the Bondi glamour club what they have lost in the round 1 blockbuster.
Baker has been named on interchange, but the 194cm, 107kg brute is determined to prove to the Broncos he can fill the void of grand-final enforcer Flegler, who will spearhead the Dolphins this season.
“All the boys (at the Broncos) loved ‘Fleggy’ and I want to get to that role and play that style of football,” Baker said as he prepares to take on his former Roosters teammates.
“I feel my best football is in front of me.
“I’m excited. To be able to verse (sic) my old team for a Broncos debut in Vegas, that’s perfect.”
In his first interview as a Bronco in pre-season, Baker raised eyebrows in Camp Bondi when he spoke of quitting the Roosters, saying: “I went from one good club to a better club I reckon.”
Baker immediately softened his stance and said he had no issue with the Roosters, insisting his move to the Broncos was purely motivated by the opportunity to secure a permanent starting spot.
The 24-year-old knows the Roosters’ style well enough to be bracing for a midfield onslaught from Collins, Radley, Leniu and co., but is confident Brisbane’s pack won’t take a backward step.
“Everyone knows they are a bit of a bully team,” Baker said of the Roosters.
“They play hard and play through the middle, then they have players like (Luke) Keary, ‘Teddy’ (James Tedesco) and Sammy Walker.
“It’s just football. The Chooks boys are an intimidating bunch.
“They play that type of football and the Broncos do as well, so it will be a good match-up.
“We have done a bit of video on them, but we will play our game.”
Baker has settled in nicely at Red Hill. The Muswellbrook monster played strongly in his Broncos trial hitout against the Cowboys last Sunday week and coach Kevin Walters likes his size off the bench supporting Payne Haas, Corey Jensen and Pat Carrigan in a formidable middle-forward rotation.
Baker plays his 47th NRL game in the 2024 premiership opener in Vegas and insists there is no bad blood with the Roosters over his departure to Brisbane.
“It was just the opportunity, really,” he said.
“I told Trent (Robinson, Roosters coach) that I was going up to experience the Broncos boys.
“I went up there and had a look around (at the Broncos set-up) and loved it, right from the get-go.
“The Roosters was my home as well but it just came down to opportunity.
“The last time I spoke about the Chooks I turned into a bad guy, but they all know I have a lot of respect for them.
“There hasn’t been much banter yet, we are all staying at the same hotel in Vegas so I will try and catch up with a couple of boys.”
Former Brisbane skipper Corey Parker believes the Broncos have snared a quality prop in Baker, who grew up idolising Queensland Origin legends Darren Lockyer and Greg Inglis.
“This is a great chance for Baker to impress,” said 347-game club legend Parker.
“From what I have seen of him, I have no doubt he has what it takes to replace Tom Flegler.
“Footy is about opportunities and taking them when they come.
“Maybe Fletcher wasn’t getting the right opportunities at the Roosters, but there’s a great opportunity for him to be a starting front-rower this year at the Broncos and I see no reason why he can’t do it.”
JESSE ARTHARS OPENS UP ON HIS RED HILL REDEMPTION STORY
He was the Red Hill reject. Now Jesse Arthars is Brisbane’s prince of wingers.
Arthars has reflected on his remarkable resurrection at the Broncos as the Maori All Stars ace prepares to run out as Brisbane’s No. 1 winger in the NRL’s historic double header in Las Vegas on Sunday.
The omission of 201-game club stalwart Corey Oates in favour of six-match rookie Deine Mariner has confirmed Arthars as the Broncos’ senior winger for their clash with the Roosters at Allegiant Stadium.
But not so long ago, Arthars feared he was permanently headed for the Red Hill exits.
At the end of the 2021 season, Arthars was temporarily released to the Warriors due to a backline of riches that left the Auckland-born flyer struggling to earn regular NRL game time at the Broncos.
The move across the ditch triggered the rejuvenation of Arthars, whose five tries in 12 matches demonstrated the class and untapped potential that proved he was not a spent force.
With another 12 months to run on his Broncos deal, Arthars was taken back by coach Kevin Walters and since his return, the 25-year-old has gone to another level with his consistency and application.
Arthars’ career-best form last season – he scored nine tries from 20 appearances – saw him clinch a three-year extension and he is keen to repay the faith of Walters in Brisbane’s Vegas opener.
“Kevvie put a lot of trust in me last year,” said Arthars, who has fought back well after injuring his ankle in pre-season.
“I just wanted to make sure I repaid the favour to him and all the other boys that wanted me to play as well.
“I wanted to put my best foot forward, but we have another season ahead of us and we are all looking forward to starting here in Vegas, it’s going to be a good one.
“When I got injured in the pre-season, I was a bit worried, but we got the scans and it wasn’t too bad.
“I am pretty lucky to be over here now. It (his ankle) is back to full strength so I’m looking forward to getting out there.”
Arthars said he had hoped his stint at the Warriors on loan would not represent the end of his Broncos career.
“When I left we were still going through those tough times as a club,” he said.
“We weren’t going too well as a team and as a club.
“Me going away (to the Warriors) was just an opportunity to have a little fresh start and work on my game, get a few games in grade and that’s what I did.
“Unfortunately, I got a bit injured there, but I always wanted to come back to Brisbane.
“I love this club and I love these boys, I just wanted to work on the things I needed to when I went away and that’s what I did.”
Arthars was one of Brisbane’s surprise packets of the 2023 season.
He emerged as Brisbane’s Mr Reliable and was rewarded when veteran winger Oates was sensationally dropped on the eve of the finals in favour of Arthars, who partnered Selwyn Cobbo on the wing in their grand-final loss to Penrith.
“That gave me a lot more confidence,” Arthars said of his grand-final selection.
“Kevvie was believing in me and the boys put the belief in me as well.
“That (grand final) was a game I was happy to be a part of and I worked really hard to get there.
“Kevvie’s job isn’t easy, for him to give me the nod, I wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing by Kevvie and by Oatesy as well for getting that spot.
“I feel like I did that, I will look to improve each game that I play this year and go from there.”
OATES SNUBBED: WALTERS’ SHOCK LAS VEGAS BACKLINE RESHUFFLE
Corey Oates has suffered another heartbreaking omission with Broncos coach Kevin Walters opting for the blinding speed of Deine Mariner to blow the Roosters off the park in Las Vegas on Sunday (AEST).
Walters has made his first big selection call of the new season, snubbing Oates in favour of speed demon Mariner for Brisbane’s historic premiership opener in the NRL double header at Allegiant Stadium.
With Jesse Arthars secure in the No. 2 jumper, the battle for the final wing spot came down to Mariner or Oates, who both had stints on the flank at Brisbane’s Los Angeles training base on Tuesday morning (AEST).
But Walters has forsaken the big-game experience of Oates for the scorching speed of six-game rookie Mariner, believing Brisbane’s fastest player can torch the Tri-Colours on Vegas’ smaller field.
Rated the best schoolboy centre in the country three years ago, the Palm Beach Currumbin flyer is faster than Broncos superstar Reece Walsh – clocked at 4.7 seconds in 40-metre sprint testing.
Strike centre Kotoni Staggs has trained alongside Mariner over summer and insists the 20-year-old is primed for a breakout season, starting against the Roosters at Allegiant.
“’Deano’ has been good in pre-season,” Staggs said.
“He is still a young fella himself, he got a couple of games last year, he had that taste of NRL and he has a lot of improvement.
“He is still young and still learning.
“He is loving where he is (on the wing). I love having him outside me, he is very quick, so you give him the ball in space and he’s gone.
NRL ROUND 1 LAS VEGAS TEAMS: Broncos, Roosters, Rabbitohs, Sea Eagles
“He is taking the opportunity now that Kevvie has given him with both hands.
“He wants to get better in that wing position.”
Oates, relegated to 18th man duties, is entitled to be bitterly disappointed.
The former Queensland Origin winger missed last year’s grand final after being dropped on the eve of the finals last year, but appeared to be back in the mix after Walters lauded his pre-season attitude just two days ago.
Walters considered Oates’ hulking frame and penetration on kick returns, but feels Mariner could be Brisbane’s X-factor with his pace and finishing prowess.
In other selection news, rookie prop Xavier Willison has been named on the bench in the No. 17 jumper, but it is understood Walters is still toying with the prospect of elevating Martin Taupau.
While the veteran enforcer was named on Brisbane’s extended bench, Taupau trained extensively in the midfield on Tuesday and could be an eleventh-hour addition at the expense of Willison.
Roosters import Fletcher Baker will make his Broncos debut off the bench against his former club, while Tyson Smoothy has staved off pre-season trial sensation Tristan Sailor to retain the No. 14 jumper.
Peter Badel travelled to Las Vegas courtesy of the NRL
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