Broncos hooker Turpin determined to fend off Raiders rival

BRONCOS hooker Jake Turpin has spoken of his desire to be Brisbane’s long-term No.9 following speculation Canberra’s Josh Hodgson could be headed for Red Hill.

Hodgson has been linked with a shock move to the Broncos on the back of Canberra’s unravelling season and his decision to step down from the Raiders’ captaincy.

The Broncos have spoken internally about signing Hodgson and there remains a possibility he will wear Brisbane colours next year.

Turpin has an option in his contract that he can activate to remain at the Broncos in 2022.

Alternatively, he can leave the club or negotiate a longerterm deal.

Broncos coach Kevin Walters has been searching for his ideal dummy-half solution this year. Turpin has started all eight games going into tomorrow’s derby against North Queensland in Townsville.

He was playing 80 minutes per game in the early rounds before the Broncos signed Danny Levi to give Turpin some support from the bench.

With 31 games now under his belt for the Broncos, Turpin said he wanted to be Brisbane’s chief hooker, despite the club’s interest in Hodgson.

“That’s the plan – I’d love to,” he said.

“I love this club and living in Brisbane and my family are here.

“Even though it’s tough times at the moment, I want to be here in the happy times.

“That would be very rewarding.”

Turpin, 24, has been in solid form throughout 2021.

He is averaging 40 tackles per game, but his attacking influence is still low, with only two runs per match.

Turpin said he wanted to improve the attacking side of his game and the addition of Levi would help.

“A hooker has got to be a good defender, especially when we’re making the errors that we are in games,” he said.

“I definitely want to run a lot more. I need to work on that. But making 50 tackles a game takes the sting out of my attacking game. With Danny coming in and giving me a 20minute spell, I can lift that running game.

“I’m going all right. I played 80 minutes in the first five or six rounds then Danny has come in and given us a little bit of a break because it’s a long season.

“It’s gone all right for us the last couple of weeks. I’m trucking along all right. There’s always things to work on.”