McCullough’s season over

WAYNE Bennett insists the Broncos have the defence to be NRL premiership contenders despite losing inspirational hooker Andrew McCullough for the rest of the season.

McCullough will undergo surgery on a torn ACL and MCL this week following friendly fire from Adam Blair in last Friday’s loss to Parramatta.

Of Brisbane’s star- studded squad, McCullough is arguably the player the Broncos could least afford to lose.

Having cut his teeth in the NRL as an interchange hooker, Ben Hunt is favoured to replace McCullough for the remainder of Brisbane’s premiership campaign. Hunt is an attacking ace, but there are question marks over Brisbane’s defence.