BRONCOS EXPECT MUCH-LOVED MCCULLOUGH TO SNITCH
THE Broncos will not underestimate the threat of former teammate Andrew McCullough in their clash with the Knights on Thursday night, expecting the hooker to have leaked Brisbane’s secrets to his new club.
McCullough sought an immediate release from Brisbane – the club he had been with since he was 13 – last month to link with Newcastle for the remainder of the 2020 season.
Since the Queensland State of Origin hooker’s departure from Red Hill, the Broncos have lost first-choice No.9 Jake Turpin to a fractured leg, forcing them to debut young gun Cory Paix against the Roosters in Round 4.
Brisbane is expected to officially sign New Zealand international Issac Luke today to bring some depth back to the hooker position, but with Thursday’s match looming, the club will have to face the man they have let go.
McCullough has settled in comfortably at Newcastle over the past fortnight and his former teammates are expecting him to be at his best in Gosford.
Brisbane fullback Jamayne Isaako said his team expected McCullough to share some of Brisbane’s secrets, making Newcastle an even bigger threat.
“It will be pretty interesting coming up against Macca after he left the group,” Isaako said yesterday.
“He spent the whole preseason with us and played a couple of games at the start (of the season), which will probably benefit them with what he knows about us as a group.
“He knows a fair bit about us and knows how we get around the park, so I’m sure being on the opposition he’ll probably be exploiting us a little bit.”
Despite the highly anticipated showdown between McCullough and his former teammates, the Broncos’ Joe Ofahengaue said there was certainly no bad blood.
The forward said the 30-yearold McCullough was “loved here at the club by everyone”.
“It will be a bit weird going up against him,” he said.
“Everyone here is good mates with Macca. We all love him.
“We’re really proud he got his opportunity down there but now we’re playing against him ... so we’re going to have to try something new on him this week.
“He’s going to be over there snitching on us.”