Infamous boot camp that broke Shane Warne can rebuild Broncos

Shane Warne was allowed to bring a carton of Benson and Hedges cigarettes to Australia’s boot camp in 2006. Broncos players will be afforded a sleeping bag and little else on their boot camp.

The Broncos have headed bush for a leadership camp to the region where Shane Warne learnt to dread the mention of those two words.

Broncos squad members were told to bring a sleeping bag and little else as they headed bush to an undisclosed region just outside Brisbane for a two day camp.

The venture comes nearly two decades after another bonding camp to the same region when Australian cricket coach John Buchanan took his team away to rebuild and refresh following the deep fractures of the 2005 Ashes tour of England.

A city slicker down to the mini-nightclub installed in the basement of his Melbourne home, Warne loathed the camp idea from the start.

His colourful resistance to the project provided a flood of stories which his teammates still laugh about.

Shane Warne (R) wasn’t a fan of John Buchanan’s (L) bonding camps.

As they stood in their underwear before their commanders as the pre-tour address, Warne’s group were told nothing bar essential medicines could be taken on tour.

Standing proud and defiant in his playboy undies, Warne plonked down a carton of Benson and Hedges cigarettes like they were a winning poker hand and declared “these are medicinal. Just to set the record straight. I’ll line up. I will do whatever you want. But if these don’t go, the King’s not going.’’

Not even Reece Walsh would try that one on.

But such was Warne’s power he got to take his ciggies with him.

Reece Walsh prepares to go bush. Picture: Richard Walker

Teammates said the intensity of the glowing light of his cigarettes in camp after dark was a sign of how deeply Warne was sucking on them and how stressed he was.

Not that the darts lightened his mood. Camp organisers thought they had won Warne over when they asked during a revision session if anyone had learnt anything about themselves and Warne raised his hand.

But the messages were less inspirational than they had hoped when Warne piped up with: “I have learnt three things - I’m fat, I’m unfit, and I want to go home.’’

But despite Warne’s issues other teammates felt the camp worked well and Broncos coach Michael Maguire is working closely on connectivity after the team looked fractured in the closing rounds of last season.

Forward Corey Jensen said the players were not told many details of the camp but felt the exercise could be beneficial.

Corey Jensen is bracing for a tough slog in the bush. Picture: Richard Walker

“I have no idea what is going to come for us but it will be a good chance to bond together as a group,’’ Jensen said.

“I have done a few similar camps in my time. They are all different in their own way.

“A few of the boys are a bit nervous, a few of the young boys who have not experienced this type of thing.’’

“I think a few of the boys have been trying to get around and find out but no-one really gives you too much. I expect the unexpected and go out and give it your best.’’