NRL: Broncos keen to re-sign six of the best

[Queenslander]

Six of the best

Steve Ricketts
February 06, 2007 11:00pm
Article from: The Courier-Mail

THE Broncos will move swiftly to re-sign three internationals and three rising stars coming off contract this year.

Chief executive Bruno Cullen said yesterday he hoped to have Test representatives Shaun Berrigan, Brent Tate and Dane Carlaw and young guns Darius Boyd, Greg Eastwood (both 19) and Steve Michaels, 20, locked into new deals before the halfway point of the season.

Cullen said he would move quicker than normal to re-sign the players following the NRL's repeal of its June 30 anti-tampering rules.

"There will be a chance to sit down with some of the players in Britain during our World Club Challenge tour this month," Cullen said. "We know the younger blokes in particular will be in demand and while we believe they want to stay there is always a chance of being blown out of the water by a big offer."

Boyd, Eastwood and Michaels all came to the Broncos from the Gold Coast and there is little doubt the Titans will have them in their sights for 2008.

Tate, 24, is interested in a switch to rugby union with Wallaby coach John Connolly an admirer of his talents.

Berrigan, 28, and Carlaw, 26, are set to be one-club players, although the Broncos will not make the mistake of taking their loyalty for granted.

Eastwood, who is being groomed by the Broncos as a ball-playing forward, said yesterday he was excited about the prospect of making the tour of Britain from February 13-26 after missing out on a place in the grand final squad last year.

The talented utility also missed out on making his Test debut for New Zealand in England last June when he tore his hamstring playing for the Broncos.

"I'm hungry for a big year," he said. "I thought I was chance for the grand final and it was tough watching from the sidelines."

Eastwood returned to training in November in poor shape and has had to work hard to earn a spot in the WCC squad. He has been named at lock for Saturday's trial against the Central Comets in Rockhampton, where teenage prop David Taylor will get his chance off the bench.

Taylor has missed out on the England trip with coach Wayne Bennett determined to bring him along slowly despite the hype over his ability to fill the shoes of retired Test prop Shane Webcke.

Berrigan failed to finish yesterday's training run because of an arm injury but was not in doubt for the British tour.

Utility Ian Lacey (hamstring) has been ruled out of the Rockhampton trial with Kiwi John Te Reo the replacement.

The Courier Mail

[Queenslander]

These are six needed signings for the club. Shaun Berrigan will be on the hit list for many clubs after seeing his great all round performance last year.

Hopefully Tate will stay clear of Union, not only for the Broncos sake but for his....I don't think he will handle too many union scrums with his neck problem.

[Old Diehard]

With the salary cap - you would have to expect that Broncos couldn't afford all those players and as Boyd , Michaels & Eastwood are from the GC or went to school at the GC , puts the Titans in the box seat to pick up at least one of these talents!

But Broncos do have 1 plus that keeps players resigning with them (even for less money!) and that is they are WINNERS! and everyone likes the ride when your team is winning.....Now we just need the Titans to have a good season and success will snow ball from there!