After putting in a composed performance as the Broncos fought back to snatch a late Pre-Season Challenge win against the Cowboys, Jock Madden declared he’d be “ready to go” in Round 1 if skipper Adam Reynolds was unfit to play.
Reynolds missed the match at Sunshine Coast Stadium last night after earlier in the week suffering from back soreness, with coach Kevin Walters opting to rest his halfback in a “no-risk approach” prior to Round 1.
For Madden, the opportunity to finally pull on a Broncos jersey was something special.
“Kevvie told me throughout the week that I would be playing when Reyno hurt his back at training,” Madden told media following the match.
“It was a good opportunity; I was excited to put the Broncos jumper on for the first time and do my job for the boys.
“The seven is a big job for the Broncos, Alfie [Allan Langer], Reyno [Reynolds]; they have all played there, so I just wanted to go out there and do my job and do what I do best. They gave me the confidence throughout the week to do that.
“The club has so much history and so much success. To play at the Broncos and put on a Broncos jersey is very special.”
While Reynolds has not featured in any of Brisbane’s Pre-Season Challenge games, he is expected to be fit for the side’s Round 1 match against Penrith Panthers, with Walters saying the 2014 premiership winner was “confident of playing”.
However, the coach was happy to see Madden step up and knew his offseason recruit was prepared to step in if and when needed.
“I knew, if his training form was anything, he was always going to be a handful tonight,” Walters said on Madden after the 20-18 win.
“He’s very good, I just like the way he plays, nice and straight, good defensively, kicked the ball well.
“He’s got some more to learn of course, but a lot to like about his game.”
One of the reasons Madden was so confident he could step into the halfback role for the Broncos, also declaring he would be “100% ready to go” if required to fill in for the opening round match, was due to the mentoring he has received since his arrival at the club from the man he replaced and the confidence that has been instilled in him by another Broncos halfback, his coach Walters.
"Reynolds has been really good (at training), he is a great player, he controls the game really well, kicks really well,” Madden said.
“He had a chat to me before the game and he said ‘just go and have fun and enjoy it’, he has that confidence in me, so learning from him day-in, day-out, watching him go about his business as well is really good.
“(But) 100% I would be (ready to go in Round 1), I have done the hard work at training, I have had the experience of playing NRL the last few years so I'm ready to go if required.
“(Walters) instils confidence in me and backs what I do as a player. He continues to drive working on my defence; Kevvie has been really good in pre-season, I am excited about the year ahead.”
The Broncos kick off their season with a trip south to face the reigning premiers Penrith in Round 1.
Match: Panthers v Broncos
Round 1 -
home Team
Panthers
8th Position
away Team
Broncos
6th Position
Venue: BlueBet Stadium, Penrith
