Turpin states his case for hooking spot
IT WAS the desperate display in the dying minutes of a preseason trial that could tip the Broncos’ hooker race in Jake Turpin’s favour.
With his side down by two and less than a minute remaining in torrential conditions, most would have been content to run the clock out, but Turpin could be seen barking at his forwards to pack down the scrum to give his side one last chance of snatching victory.
It wasn’t the first time in the match the young rake showed his competitiveness and a determination to do the one-percenters, after charging down two kicks – and chasing both down – in the first half.
Coach Anthony Seibold said he was impressed with his hooker’s sense of urgency in what was a trial match, but he wasn’t surprised, given his competitive nature.
“Turps is always a player that makes a choice to put kick pressure on and so on, so I was really comfortable with what he did there,” he said.
“He’s overcome a fair bit actually in his very short career. He’s only 23 and he’s had to overcome some serious injuries during his time at Melbourne Storm.”
Turpin is on a collision course with veteran rake Andrew
McCullough to be starting hooker and his solid performance in Cairns will do nothing but intensify the coach’s selection headaches.
“He was really good out of dummy half there,” Seibold said of the Ipswich product.
“He played the first half and came back on for the last 20 minutes, so he got plenty of time. He probably had some opportunities to jump a little bit in the first half but due to the conditions he just dished it off a little bit.
“He’s had a good pre-season and I think what we’ve seen in the pre-season transferred into the game.”