Brisbane workhorse Andrew McCullough to celebrate 250 NRL games on Thursday night
Even while the Brisbane battle to make the finals, stalwart hooker Andrew McCullough will rack up 250 NRL games for the Broncos this weekend and can’t contemplate being anywhere else.
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Brisbane workhorse Andrew McCullough says he wants to finish his playing career with the Broncos after signing another year on his Red Hill contract last month.
On the eve of his milestone 250th NRL game, McCullough says he has found a “new lease on life” at Brisbane and is hoping to lead the Baby Broncos to more success in the future.
One of the last remaining Broncos to be scouted by legendary recruitment manager, the late Cyril Connell, McCullough is set to repay the faith of the Brisbane club which has been his home for the past 12 seasons.
Despite speculation surrounding McCullough’s playing future earlier this season, the Maroons representative said he is hoping to remain a one-club player at the Broncos.
“I’d love to (be a one-club man),” McCullough said.
“The way it’s progressing at this stage, I daresay that’s going to happen.
“I’ve got another year here and I’ll be 30 by then, so it’s looking like that way.
“I’ve been very lucky in sport to be able to do that for so long.”
The Dalby-born 29-year-old will celebrate his milestone 250th match on home turf on Thursday night when they host the Canterbury Bulldogs.
It will mark 20 years since McCullough first pulled on a rugby league jersey — for the Dalby Devils as a nine-year-old in the Toowoomba Junior Rugby League competition.
He said his journey to Red Hill was inspired by the likes of former Brisbane greats Darren Lockyer, Peter Wallace, Corey Parker and Justin Hodges.
McCullough said one of the biggest influences on his career was Connell, who identified him as a young kid from the bush to play in the NRL.
“A lot of guys now don’t know who Cyril is, but he’s the main reason the Broncos are what they are today,” he said.
“It seems like a fair while ago.
“I remember when Cyril came to the school and the reputation he had as a guy for picking the best guys.
“It was such a thrill as a 12-year-old to have a guy like that have a chat at our school and show an interest was something very special.”
Now McCullough has become the “dad” of the current Broncos squad — taking rookies Tom Dearden and Xavier Coates into his home — and said their enthusiasm has sparked a new found form for the dummy-half.
“I still love coming to training and I still love competing,” he said. “I love turning up to pre-season fit and mixing it with the young guys.
“Being around them gives me a new lease on life because they’re so excited.
“Playing at Suncorp is fresh and new to them, so I certainly get a buzz from seeing them like that.”
Originally published as Brisbane workhorse Andrew McCullough to celebrate 250 NRL games on Thursday night
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