Tag: rugby league

Ben Hunt Returns to Red Hill as Broncos Eye Title Glory

Brisbane Broncos have landed a major coup for their 2025 premiership campaign, securing the services of Queensland Origin star Ben Hunt on a two-year deal. The signing marks a homecoming for Hunt, who launched his NRL career with the Broncos in 2009.

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Ben Hunt reveals why Brisbane won out

When asked whether returning to the Broncos was always the plan, Hunt admitted in an interview with 4BC Brisbane, “It definitely wasn’t always, and that’s what made the decision process so long.”

“Having a family down here in Sydney, we had to weigh up whether it was the right move to come back to Queensland or stay down here and finish off before we move back.”

Despite strong interest from Sydney clubs, Hunt’s emotional connection to Brisbane won out. “In my heart it always kept taking me back to Brisbane and the possibility of finishing off my career where it all started,” Hunt revealed.

Premiership vision drives return

Broncos head coach Michael Maguire believes Hunt could be the missing piece in breaking Brisbane’s 19-year title drought. “He would give us great depth,” Madge said. “Ben has played both positions at the highest levels at hooker and halfback, so it would give us versatility around what he can do.”

Hunt, too, is optimistic about his return. “I’m hoping I can contribute and win a competition,” he shared, voicing his championship ambitions. “I believe they’ve got the troops to do it, and Madge will be great for the club.”

Hunt is open to embracing any role that benefits the team but remains clear about his priorities. “My priority is to play in the half—that’s my favourite position,” he stated. “But playing hooker definitely isn’t an issue for me.”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”

Looking ahead to 2025

The 334-game veteran will begin training under Maguire next month, bringing experience and leadership to Red Hill. “I met with Madge a couple of times and everything we talked about was footy related—what he thinks the side’s capable of and how I can contribute,” Hunt said. “Our conversations were outstanding and I’m looking forward to playing under him.”

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“For him to come back and achieve something that he set out as a kid at the Broncos, it would be an incredible story,” Maguire added, highlighting the narrative of Hunt’s return.

With Hunt’s leadership and skillset, the Broncos’ spine is shaping up to be one of the strongest in the NRL, giving the team a dynamic edge as they prepare for the 2025 season.

Published 27-November-2024

From Backyard Dreams to Broncos Legend: Corey Oates Hangs Up His Boots

Photo Credit: Brisbane Broncos/Instagram

In a Baralaba backyard, a young Corey Oates once narrated his own imaginary tries at Suncorp Stadium. Today, he closes the chapter on a dream turned reality, announcing his retirement from the Brisbane Broncos after a decorated 12-year career that saw him cross the try line 121 times in the maroon jersey.

Read: Brisbane Broncos Roundup: Enter the Michael Maguire Era

The country kid who conquered Brisbane

From the fields of Central Queensland to Brisbane’s rugby league heartland, Oates’ journey reads like a rugby league fairy tale. The Baralaba Panthers junior rose from a bush footy hopeful to a cornerstone of one of the NRL’s most storied clubs, amassing 216 first-grade games along the way.

While the statistics tell an amazing story—121 tries as the Broncos’ third-highest try scorer of all time, nine State of Origin appearances, and three series victories for Queensland—they still don’t capture the heart-stopping moments that defined his career.

From his unforgettable maiden try in the 2015 grand final, which had Brisbane dreaming of glory…

…to his remarkable four-try showcase against Manly in 2018 that brought Suncorp Stadium to its feet…

…and to his resurgent 2022 season, where he crossed the line 20 times in 22 games, Oates turned wing play into an art form.

“Playing Origin for Queensland and playing for the Broncos—I still have to pinch myself that it all happened for real,” Oates says.

Corey Oates dances with adversity

Every hero’s journey has its battles, and Oates has fought his share. He overcame a career-threatening staph infection in 2017, bounced back from a broken jaw in 2023, and weathered the storms of form and fitness that tested him in his final seasons. Yet, like the country boy who first dreamed of wearing Broncos colours, he never lost his fighting spirit.

At 29, with young kids at home and a body that’s weathered 12 seasons of professional rugby league, Oates makes his exit on his own terms.

“When you have kids and family, and when you get to that point in your career, you evaluate what’s important – and I want to be part of my kid’s life and do as much as I can with them,” he reflects.

“I never wanted to be the person who went one season too many.”

Read: Kelvin Grove Teacher Recognised in Prestigious State Awards

As the last remnant of the 2015 grand final team departs, Oates leaves behind more than just tries and tackles. He carries with him the distinction of being a one-club man in an era where loyalty often takes a backseat to opportunity. The doors of the Broncos won’t close entirely on Oates, with discussions of an ambassador role suggesting his story with the club isn’t quite finished.

As the sun sets on one chapter, the legacy of Corey Oates—try-scoring phenomenon, Origin warrior, and Broncos faithful—will continue to inspire the next generation of backyard dreamers.

Published 10-October-2024

Brisbane Broncos Roundup: Enter the Michael Maguire Era

Photo Credit: NRL on Nine/Youtube

A new dawn at Red Hill as skipper Adam Reynolds is reunited with former coach, “Madge” Maguire, while young forward Kobe Hetherington earned national recognition with selection in the PM’s XIII squad.

Read: Madge MaGuire Comes To Red Hill

New sheriff heralds culture shift

Broncos captain Adam Reynolds, who won a premiership under Maguire at South Sydney, offered insight into what his teammates can expect. “He comes in, he demands success straight away and he holds everyone accountable to their actions both on the field and off the field and the boys will get a bit of a shock,” Reynolds told Triple M.

The incoming coach showed immediate understanding of the club’s significance, acknowledging the Broncos as “one of rugby league’s great clubs” and emphasising his commitment to the fans.

“We want the members to turn up and be proud of the way we play, proud of their team,” Maguire stated.

Echoes of 2008’s coaching crossroads

As the Broncos embrace their new coaching direction, a fascinating revelation has emerged about a pivotal moment in the club’s history. In 2008, the club was on the verge of securing Craig Bellamy as Wayne Bennett’s successor—a move that could have dramatically altered the course of rugby league history.

Fox Sports’ Matty Johns revealed to the Courier News that Bellamy was ready to accept the role until a single comment about coaching autonomy derailed the entire deal. “The Broncos didn’t want Craig to have the same power over them that Wayne had,” Johns explained, noting that this was the decisive factor in Bellamy’s decision to remain with Melbourne.

The implications of that moment continue to reverberate, with Johns reflecting, “No doubt he would have won premierships with the Broncos… Craig would have been the perfect fit.”

Club legends consider futures

Two-time premiership winner Darius Boyd has already decided to exit his role as mentor to the club’s outside backs. The Courier Mail reports that Boyd, who had been instrumental in developing talents like Reece Walsh and Selwyn Cobbo, notified the club of his departure one week before the coaching change, citing concerns about the direction of the football program.

Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounds the future of club immortal Allan Langer, who is weighing up his position following the departure of his longtime friend Kevin Walters.

According to the Courier Mail, the club is considering offering Langer a transition into a corporate role working with sponsors, with CEO Dave Donaghy emphasising, “We will always value what Alfie has done for the Broncos and we want to keep him here for life.”

Madge has expressed his desire to retain Langer, stating, “I’ve had a fair bit of time with Alf, and I think we all like Alf. So I want to see what he wants to do with himself and work out where he fits in.”

Hetherington earns PM’s XIII honours

While the coaching appointment dominated headlines, the Broncos received additional recognition with Kobe Hetherington earning selection in the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII squad to face Papua New Guinea. The exhibition match, scheduled for 13 October at Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby, represents a significant honour for the Broncos forward.

Hetherington joins as the sole Broncos representative alongside an impressive roster of NRL talent, with the team to be captained by departing South Sydney Rabbitohs hooker Damien Cook.

Read: Bridging Brisbane: Cleary’s ‘The Comfort of Figs’ Roots in Red Hill History

All eyes now turn to early November when Maguire will officially begin preseason preparations with the squad.

Published 06-October-2024