Tag: Suncorp Stadium

Brisbane Broncos Roundup: Broncos at the Crossroads

As the November 1 deadline approaches for off-contract players, the Brisbane Broncos find themselves at a critical juncture. With a new coach at the helm and key decisions on the future of prominent players, the club faces a significant period of transition that could shape its direction for years to come.

Read: Brisbane Broncos Roundup: Enter the Michael Maguire Era

Coaching shake-up repercussions

The move to part ways with head coach Kevin Walters has stirred mixed opinions within the Broncos community. Among the most vocal critics is former captain Gorden Tallis, who has questioned the decision to replace Walters with Michael Maguire. Tallis, an outspoken club legend, has been critical of Maguire’s recent club record, which includes several bottom-of-the-ladder finishes during his time with the Wests Tigers.

“They sacked Kevvie because he came 12th and then Madge in his last six years (at club level) came 12th, 12th, 9th at the Tigers, then he got worse. He came 11th, 13th, then he got the wooden spoon. They’re not replacing him with Craig Bellamy,” Tallis said on Triple M.

According to Courier Mail, Tallis went so far as to reject a peace offering from Maguire, declining an invitation to meet for coffee. “I told him, ‘I don’t drink coffee’,” he quipped.

Walters’ absence from the Broncos’ recent presentation night, where he and his wife declined an invitation to attend, has also raised eyebrows.

Carrigan backs Reynolds as captain

Amidst the coaching upheaval, questions have arisen about on-field leadership. Some, including Tallis last July, have suggested it might be time for a change in captaincy. However, these calls have been firmly shut down by star forward Patrick Carrigan.

Carrigan, fresh from winning his second Paul Morgan medal as the Broncos player of the year, threw his full support behind current captain Adam Reynolds. “No chance, 100 percent behind Reyno,” Carrigan stated, praising Reynolds’ influence on the club as “second to none.”

Carrigan’s words not only support Reynolds but also signal a united front among the players as they face this period of transition.

Brisbane Broncos contract decisions loom

With the coaching decision now behind them, the Broncos face another major challenge: the November 1 deadline for off-contract players. With several stars approaching free agency, the deadline highlights a balancing act between player retention and future planning.

At the forefront of these decisions is the future of captain Adam Reynolds. With 2025 potentially being his final season in the NRL, the Broncos need to plan for life after their key playmaker.

Adding to the complexity are the impending free agency statuses of star players Reece Walsh, Selwyn Cobbo, and Kotoni Staggs, all available to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1. Although Courier Mail reports that Reece Walsh has agreed to terms with the club on a lucrative extension, the resulting salary cap pressures may lead to difficult decisions regarding Cobbo and Staggs.

The Broncos have already seen some departures, with Tristan Sailor released early to join St Helens, and veterans Corey Oates and Jordan Pereira announcing their retirements.

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

In addition to navigating contract renewals, the Broncos may also be exploring new talent. According to ABC, there are “whispers” of the Broncos showing interest in the Knights’ Kai Pearce-Paul. While details remain unconfirmed, Pearce-Paul’s potential addition could bolster the Broncos’ forward pack.

The decisions made in the coming weeks will play a significant role in shaping the team’s future and their quest to return to the heights of their 2023 grand final appearance.

Published 13-October-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

Paddington Chaos: Car Flips in Multi-Vehicle Crash Near Suncorp Stadium

Photo Credit: Dashcam Owners Australia

Dashcam footage has revealed a heart-stopping incident on Hale Street in Paddington, just outside Suncorp Stadium, where a car was catapulted into the air and flipped onto its side following a reckless maneuver.

Read: Developer Targets Paddington for 48-Unit Residential Care Facility

Photo Credit: Dashcam Owners Australia

The incident, captured around 9:53 p.m., shows a white hatchback signaling to exit the road when a black sedan speeds up, attempting to merge into the lane. The sedan slams into the rear of the hatchback, sending it hurtling through the air, rolling multiple times before coming to a rest on its side.

A blue hatchback traveling in the opposite direction was also clipped, but the driver managed to maintain control of the vehicle. The black sedan, emitting sparks, briefly left the road before eventually coming to a halt.

The Queensland Police Service (QPS) confirmed that a 26-year-old woman from Loganlea sustained minor injuries in the crash. The driver of the sedan, a 19-year-old man from Moorooka, was issued a traffic infringement notice for careless driving.

The footage, shared on the Dash Cam Owners Australia Facebook page, has drawn numerous comments expressing shock and concern. One user praised the quick response of bystanders who rushed to the flipped car, while another remarked on the sudden chaos that erupted for unsuspecting drivers.

Read: Residents Seek Reduced Speed Limit on Kelvin Grove Road

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of reckless driving and the importance of maintaining vigilance on the roads.

Published Date 28-May-2024