Hodges backs return of city to state league
Ex-Broncos star has fond Clydesdales memories
‘‘ I’VE ALWAYS BEEN A CLYDESDALES FAN. JUSTIN HODGES
Photo: Nev Madsen
LEAGUE: Brisbane Broncos legend Justin Hodges wants to see Toowoomba return to the state’s top rugby league competition.
Hodges, a former Toowoomba Clydesdale player who starred for the side in two grand finals during the early 2000s, said Toowoomba deserved to return to the Intrust Super Cup in the future.
He said the success of the Clydesdales nearly 20 years ago was thanks to the side aligning its training and playing methods with the Broncos.
“One of the things about the Clydesdales (I liked) was we were still playing together and training the same way (the Broncos did),” he said.
“You were still learning to be part of the Broncos before you made the top squad.
“I’ve always been a Clydesdales fan.”
Hodges said he believed the feeder club arrangement of the 1990s and early 2000s, where Queensland Cup sides were directly linked to one NRL club, created better competition and pushed players to achieve.
“The competition for spots were always hard. You had us guys wanting to play first grade ahead of the existing guys,” he said.
“With all the boys being spread out (among plenty of clubs) nowadays, that competition eases. You don’t have the same quality of players.”
Hodges also endorsed new Broncos coach Anthony Seibold to lead the club into a new era of success, saying he was impressed by the current playing group’s pre-season.
“The more competition, the better the players perform,” he said.
“If you’ve got healthy competition, it makes you want to train and play better.
“This is the hardest I’ve seen the boys work.”
IN TOWN: Justin Hodges and a host of Brisbane Broncos stars will be in Toowoomba this weekend. Find out where on page 11.