Broncos brace for brutal PNG test
THEY have been promised the same rock star reception as the Kangaroos.
But Brisbane aren’t planning to be polite guests in their crucial 2018 NRL pre- season trial in Papua New Guinea.
Brisbane CEO Paul White said they would send a fullstrength team to meet Queensland Cup champions PNG Hunters on February 24.
PNGRFL CEO Reatau Rau predicted the Broncos would be mobbed from the airport to their hotel when they arrived in their league- mad country, much like the Prime Minister’s XIII visits each year.
“I think the whole country is going to embrace it,” Rau told the Broncos website.
“I believe the same treatment the Kangaroos receive will be afforded to the Broncos.
“They will be received well hopefully from the airport all the way down to the team hotel, and hopefully we fill the stadium on February 24.” White looked forward to the four- day PNG trip, which will include community visits.
However, he said Brisbane would not be in holiday mode as they look to finalise their squad for the March 8 season opener against Ben Hunt’s St George Illawarra.
Asked if Brisbane would send a full- strength side, White pulled no punches.
“We will. The game will be a really serious test for us.
“And we want it to be that. We want it to be a physical hit out.
“And the way the Hunters play, they put a lot of energy into the game so it will be nice and physical.
“I think we will take a good deal of benefit from it.” FORMER Townsville Blackhawks halfback Michael Parker- Walshe says a desire to help the next generation of rugby league talent is the catalyst behind his decision to play on with Townsville Brothers.
Parker- Walshe, who retired from Q Cup this year after spending three seasons as the Blackhawks’ chief playmaker, is the latest high- profile figure to link with the Townsville and Districts Rugby League competition after former Cowboys legend Matty Bowen signed on as coach of Centrals.
Parker- Walshe played two years of TDRL with Brothers in the wake of his successful Cowboys under- 20s career, which saw the New Zealand junior partner Michael Morgan in the halves for three seasons, and said it was only fitting he make his TDRL return with the blue and whites.
“It was a pretty easy decision, I played here for two years previously and we had a really strong culture and a great bunch of boys,” ParkerWalshe said.
“It’s also good to pass on a bit of knowledge here and there to the younger guys. But ultimately if they’re good enough to be playing A grade, they’ll be there.”
Parker- Walshe retired from Q Cup to dedicate more time to his working life, but is still involved at the Blackhawks as an assistant with the club’s under- 20s team.
Rated the Q Cup’s best halfback by Blackhawks coach Kristian Woolf, Parker- Walshe will bring extra class to a Brothers team that retains most of the squad that won this year’s A grade premiership.
“We’re all about bringing up our juniors and having a pathway, so we’re not really reliant on buying other players to be a successful club,” Brothers playmaker Tennyson Elliott said.
“I did some coaching with the under- 20s last year and then got to play with a handful of them in A grade this season. “It’s been a really good transition.” The Brethren will forgo any preseason training before Christmas and instead launch head first into training during the New Year, given next year’s TDRL season starts in April.
“It’s a good idea with the season start being put back until after Easter, so we get to freshen up and not really burn out,” Elliott said.
“Other clubs are training now and that’s up to them, but we’re just worrying about ourselves.”
Brothers captain Jack Kelleher said Parker- Walshe’s return would provide a huge boost to the Brethren’s chances of winning back- to- back championships.
“This year we did the ultimate thing in winning a premiership, and to have Michael in our team is obviously going to add a lot to our squad,” he said. “He’ll get the best out of our younger players as well.
“Everyone looks at Brothers saying we’re all about signing people, money and all that sort of thing, but Michael’s played with us before and it was a no- brainer there.
“So we’re looking forward to next year, we’ll be stronger.”