A chance “be a shadow” to premiership-winning halfback Adam Reynolds, and the passion the city has for rugby league, were key factors to convince Jock Madden to turn down an approach from Penrith Panthers to make the move to join the Brisbane Broncos.
One of Brisbane’s key off-season recruits, Madden was one of the players put through their paces at Red Hill during Brisbane’s first official day of pre-season training and spoke about his move from Wests Tigers up to Queensland.
“It’s really exciting, I came up here last Thursday, started training yesterday [with testing] and it’s a good bunch of boys and I really excited to rip into preseason,” Madden said.
“This club is a bloody powerful club and it’s had so much success here, so when I did get the offer, it was pretty hard to turn away.
“I am excited to come up here with all these great players here and I'm really looking forward for the season ahead.
“Obviously, you have Adam Reynolds up here and I can learn so much from him, [and I am going to] push for a starting spot up here as well.
“I came up here to play NRL and that's what I continue to do. And you know, they've got so much history here at the club and got players like Kevie (Kevin Walters) the coach, Alfie (Allan Langer), Ben Ikin, Locky (Darren Lockyer), you can know, learn from those players as well, just continue to grow my game from that as well.
“The city is bloody driven by rugby league and seeing these facilities coming here every day, it's very professional and like I said before, being part of it, it's very exciting. Really looking forward to the season ahead.”
As well as learning from his new captain, Madden also held high hopes of partnering with Reynolds in the halves, but knew he’d have to work hard to impress Walters, with 2022 Broncos rookie of the year Ezra Mam performing well at five-eighth in his debut season.
“I played six for the Tigers, my debut was at six as well … I see myself as a natural seven, but yeah, I can play six as well,” Madden told assembled media following his extended training session on Tuesday morning.
“Whatever role I have got to do for Kevie, that's what I'll do. Just put the team first.
“Ezra’s a great player as well. I think if you have competition amongst your players, it just helps you grow and grow as a player and makes you better, so if we can continue to push each other like that, it is just going to help us both.”
Madden - who played 14 NRL games in 2022 for the Tigers - also shared strong praise for fellow new face for the 2023 season Walsh, who has returned to the club after spending the past two seasons with the Warriors.
“You saw what he did the last couple of years for the Warriors and he's young as well,” Madden said.
“What he did out on the field, he’s quite a freak, so to be able to play with him would be quite cool.
“He’s fast, skillful; he’s a natural footballer, so if you get the ball in his in his hands, he is very dangerous.
“He’s very dangerous player; put him in a side with (Kotoni) Staggs, Selwyn (Cobbo), it’s just going to make him play even better.”
