Broncos forward set to put run of injuries behind him Flegler gets break

AFTER claiming a spot in the Brisbane Broncos’ top- 30 squad for 2019 this week, former Northern Pride product and Tully Tigers junior Thomas Flegler, 19, is hoping his callup is a sign his luck is turning around.

Flegler, who grew up on his family’s Tully banana farm, lamented he “hasn’t had a very good run” since moving to the Queensland capital in 2017 to chase his NRL dreams, with a string of injuries making it hard for him to amass consistent game time.

It only makes his inclusion in the Broncos’ top- 30 squad more impressive as, despite an unfortunate injury- ridden few years, Flegler has been able to make the most of his on- field moments at the ( now- defunct) Broncos NYC team in 2017 and, last year, Souths Logan Magpies, to establish himself as part of the Broncos’ coterie of emerging forwards.

“It’s been a bit of a rough trot,” said the 190cm, 105kg prop. “Last year I was only able to play six games for the Broncos’ NYC team.

“I had to have two shoulder reconstructions, one on each shoulder.”

Coming back from a three- month rehabiliation, Flegler earned a starting spot in the South Logan forward pack and played 15 games for the Magpies this season, while gaining a reputation as one of the strongest forwards in the Intrust Super Cup.

A telling stat was his ability to put up more than 40 post- contact metres in four of those games, including a 70 post- contact metres in Souths’ round six outing against the Capras.

It was around this time that Flegler was declared hot property on the player market, after it was reported that every other club – yep, all 15 – had expressed interest in him.

The Broncos, as expected, were quick to act, snapping up Flegler on a contract until the end of 2020.

He was also part of the Queensland Under- 20s squad, coached by former- Cairns Kangaroos junior Jus- tin Hodges and was selected in the Junior Kangaroos squad.

Coming off the bench against the Junior Kiwis last month, Flegler made the most of his 20- minute stint, running for more than 80m and scoring a try, before succumbing to yet another injury – this time, his syndesmosis.

“I had surgery on it a few weeks ago,” he said. “I’ll get the moon boot off in three to four weeks and then should be getting back into contact sessions around mid- January.

“I will hopefully have the chance to play NRL ( in 2019) – that’s what it’s all about – but I am mainly looking to just get through the season injuryfree,” he said.