Sport Confidential: Brisbane Broncos strength records revealed, Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins option

The new Carl Webb Strength Leaderboard hanging in Brisbane’s gym has revealed some surprising results, with Ben Ikin the owner of the most impressive feats in rugby league.

The Broncos last week unveiled their Strength Leaderboard in the gym as a tribute to the club legend Carl Webb, who passed away in December after a battle with Motor Neurone Disease.

It was no surprise Webb was the strongest in the bench press and back squat, but there was one name which appeared as a shock - that of Queensland Rugby League CEO Ben Ikin.

Ikin played 55 games for the Broncos and was a key part of their 2000 premiership win. But the playmaker takes great pride in being the chin-up king at the Broncos, outlasting the likes of Shane Webcke, Brad Thorn and Petero Civoniceva with a one-rep record of 80kg.

“It was 24 years ago, possibly the longest standing record in rugby league history,” Ikin said with a laugh.

The new Carl Webb Strength Leaderboard at the Broncos gym at Red Hill. Picture: Adam Head

“The strength coach only wanted to have the bench and the squat on the leaderboard, but the Broncos’ head of football suggested there should be a chin-up category.

“That head of football just happened to be me and I knew which category I had come first in, so it’s up there on the leaderboard.

“We had to put a weight belt on with a chain and we just kept adding plates.

“We started at 20kg, then 40, then 60 and I kept going.

“I was shocked myself to get to 80kg. I wasn’t strong in any other area, but I did a lot of chin ups as a kid and used it as part of my footy training.

“Brad Thorn went close to beating me and was filthy I got him in the end.”

MENINGA STAYS WITH TITANS

Des Hasler has retained Immortal Mal Meninga at the Gold Coast Titans following the dramatic sacking of former coach Justin Holbrook.

A high performance consultant at Gold Coast, Meninga’s future at the Titans looked shaky after he was frozen out of the clandestine moves last year to sack Holbrook and appoint Hasler.

At the time, Meninga claimed he felt “ostracised” by the high-powered decision that happened without his knowledge.

Meninga was a fan of Holbrook and played a key role in signing the Super League premiership-winner to replace Garth Brennan in late 2019.

With his Titans contract expiring last November, Meninga’s future with Gold Coast was up in the air.

It is unclear if Hasler and Meninga will work closely together like Holbrook did, however the Kangaroos coach hasn’t been shown the door and will continue to mentor Titans players this year.

IKIN: BRING BACK THE BEARS

Queensland Rugby League boss Ben Ikin has backed the ARL Commission’s push for more expansion and has called for the North Sydney Bears to be revived in the big league.

Ikin played 87 games for North Sydney between 1996-99 and was part of the Bears’ final squad before the club became part of the ill-fated Northern Eagles joint venture for the 2000 season.

The Northern Eagles lasted just three seasons before bitter rivals Manly returned as a stand-alone NRL club, relegating North Sydney to second-tier status in the NSW Cup.

But with ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys keen to expand the competition to 20 teams over the next 10 years, Ikin hopes the Bears are eventually granted an NRL licence.

The former Queensland Origin utility believes North Sydney’s rich history could be the perfect brand to launch the Perth Bears in a new market in Western Australia.

“There’s a few contenders for an NRL licence such as the PNG Hunters and the Brisbane Tigers, but if the North Sydney Bears were to come back, it would be wonderful for the sport,” Ikin said.

“Finding a way to get their history back into the elite game would be magnificent.

“The Bears are a foundation club, such a rich history, there is a dormant fan base that would immediately become re-engaged with the game.

“At the moment, the NRL is talking about getting to 20 teams. If they end up going to a new franchise like Perth ... well let’s use the Bears’ ‘IP’ (Intellectual Property).”

V’landys says it’s unlikely North Sydney will return as a stand-alone entity, but Ikin supports the idea of the Bears joining forces with another consortium, with a sprinkling of home games played in Sydney.

“If there is a consortium brewing up from somewhere for a market they are targeting, make the Bears a part of it,” said Ikin, who signed a lucrative deal with North Sydney after making his top-grade debut at the Gold Coast.

“For example, if the NRL is looking to Perth, they can say one of the conditions of getting a licence in that market is that you are named the Bears.

Bring back the Bears. Art: Boo Bailey

“It’s not difficult.

“We have this remarkable history with the Bears. Let’s reignite it.

“If there are three consortiums bidding for the licence, then whoever wins has to take the Bears name.

“It’s a no-brainer.

“At the end of the day, the real indicator of success is whether or not the franchise wins.

“The Bears’ historical component would be important and a nice thing for the game I believe, but wherever they put the next team, you want to make sure it’s well run and ultimately successful at some point.”

WAYNE’S DOUBLE JOBS

The Dolphins are open to an arrangement which would see Wayne Bennett coach the Kiwis and retain a role with the Redcliffe NRL club next year.

Bennett is courting New Zealand’s top job following the departure of Michael Maguire to coach the NSW Origin team.

The super coach will vacate his role at the Dolphins at the end of this season to allow Kristian Woolf to take over as head coach.

The Dolphins are hoping Bennett will remain with them in a to-be-defined role, potentially as a consultant or director.

And they would have no problems with Bennett coaching the Kiwis if that is the case.

The $1 million question is whether the 74-year-old Bennett is done with NRL coaching at the end of this season or opts to go on.

There are usually a few jobs that come up for grabs during the season and he will have a big decision to make.

Will Wayne Bennett remain at the Dolphins in 2025? Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

BRONCOS BIG WIGS FREEZE

The big wigs of the Brisbane Broncos caught up with each other on the other side of the world recently.

Broncos chairman Karl Morris, director Darren Lockyer and CEO Dave Donaghy were all holidaying in Whistler over the summer break.

Not content with being cold in Canada, Morris headed to South America and boarded a cruise ship bound for Antarctica.

We can report he made it safely back to port this week and will be back on deck at Red Hill in the lead-up to Brisbane’s Las Vegas venture.

TITANIC GESTURE

The Titans took some time out from a gruelling pre-season to bring joy to a region devastated by the Christmas Day tornado.

Halfback Tanah Boyd was among a group of Titans players and staff that made an appearance at Tamborine Mountain School last week.

And the club received some lovely feedback following the appearance.

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt appreciation for you and your team’s visit to our school last Friday,” wrote Jodie Wooden.

“It has become the topic of conversation in our community today. Your presence meant the world to us, and I must emphasise that the children now have two new favourites (or rather, five, as they are simply adorable).

“Your visit came at just the right time and had a profound impact on our community. In fact, I was moved to tears witnessing a couple of students who simply couldn’t believe that you all cared so deeply about them.

“Your kindness and compassion are truly commendable. Once again, thank you for your outstanding work.”

Originally published as Sport Confidential: Brisbane Broncos strength records revealed, Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins option