Ahh, the good old days have returned

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Five of Brisbane Broncos’ best young players being headhunted by NRL clubs George Fai is one of the players headhunted. Pic Renae droop CRADLE snatching NRL clubs are targeting the Broncos nursery with five of the club’s best young players headhunted. The Courier-Mail can reveal the Gold Coast Titans have made a formal offer for Brisbane’s best emerging prop, 18-year-old giant George Fai. The Titans are also interested in poaching rookie sensation Joe Ofahengaue and have made inquiries about the availability of teen half Ashley Taylor. Two Sydney clubs have set their sights on 18-year-old utility Jayden Nikorima and the the Melbourne Storm have shown interest in Broncos 20-year-old centre Tom Opacic. Sydney clubs have Jayden Nikorima in their sights. The Broncos are quietly confident of keeping all five players on their books. They believe that Wayne Bennett and his coaching staff offer the young players the best environment to progress their football. Under Bennett, the Broncos have lost very few players to rival clubs they wanted to keep with Justin Hodges’ departure for the Roosters the rare exception. Until recently, Brisbane didn’t have many young players that rival clubs considered worth targeting. From 2009 to 2013, Brisbane had a lean crop of juniors with few graduating from their under-20 ranks to the NRL. They now lead the NYC competition, following on from their grand final appearance last season. Their impressive performances under coach Craig Hodges have put their young guns on the map. Rival clubs believe Brisbane’s teens are vulnerable because the Broncos have too much talent and some of their list will have to find a first-grade career elsewhere. Brisbane Broncos press conference The New Zealand Warriors have battled the same issue in recent seasons with gun under-20s players like Peter Hiku poached by Manly. Fai made almost every representative league team growing up including Australian Schoolboys and under-18 Maroons. He is highly rated at Red Hill. Brisbane’s long-term investment in half-back Ben Hunt could see them lose rising playmaker Taylor, who has piqued the interest of Titans scouts with his performances in the under-20s. Taylor was handed a three-year deal last year by former coach Anthony Griffin but will struggle to break into a Broncos NRL side piloted by halves Hunt and Anthony Milford. When Taylor was a teen the Titans chased him but he chose the Broncos. Meanwhile, the Storm have previously expressed interest in Opacic but the Broncos are determined to retain the rookie centre after tabling a one-year deal in recent weeks. The Storm have expressed interest in Tom Opacic. Pic Chris Higgins “There is certainly interest in Tom, but the Broncos are keen for him to stay,” his manager Shaun Pyne said. “He almost joined Melbourne last year. The Storm showed some interest but Tom got a pre-season with the Broncos and he’s impressed Wayne Bennett with his attitude.” Simon Mammino, manager of the younger Nikorima brother Jayden, revealed his client had already knocked the Broncos back. “The Broncos tried to extend him last year and we wanted to wait because there was instability,” Mammino said. “I’d like to hope by the middle of the season we can do something for Jayden. “The indication is Wayne (Bennett, Broncos coach) wants to see a bit more of Jayden before he decides whether to sign him.”

We're back on top of the ladder in both the NRL and NYC with Bennett running the show and the lazy merkins from down south who let other clubs do the dirty work in junior development are once again raiding our pantry. How surprised I am.

Ahh, the good old days have returned