Brisbane rugby league legends train young talent in Bay

INSPIRING: Former Brisbane Broncos and Queensland star Michael Hancock shows how to tackle at Sunday's coaching session. PHOTO: ANDREW WARNER

Brisbane Broncos legends Michael Hancock and Simon Scanlan gave the best young rugby league talent from the Upper Central Zone some inside knowledge at a development camp held at Arataki Park on Saturday.

The former greats are part of the elite development coaching team at the Broncos and were special guests at the fourth and final training hub held over the summer for players aged between 14 and 18.

The players were keen to learn a week out from the first round of the Ruben Wiki Challenge Cup to be played at Rotorua International Stadium. The Wai-Coa-Bay under-16 and under-18 rep teams will meet their counterparts from the Warriors.

Hancock and Scanlan impressed with their enthusiasm and the intensity they put into their training drills.

"Our job is to go out there and give kids an opportunity. The knowledge that I have learnt over a period of time I can give to the kids, something tangible they can take away and implement in their own football careers," Hancock said.

"If they do that later on at the Warriors or Canberra or Melbourne we have done our jobs. We can help them with their football and help them be better people. It is not just always about the rugby league. It is about giving them an opportunity to be good people and we talk to them about that and what is expected of them."

Hancock is hoping a change of head coach at the Warriors will produce better results that will flow right through to the grass roots of the game in the regions.

"I am so happy that Steve [Kearney] has come over here to coach the Warriors. They have been my nemesis since I was playing because I love what they give and love what they produce but they just have to be more consistent.

"Steve hopefully can do that and that can lead into the national team and then if that is successful the whole country is going to buy into what they are achieving.

"These young guys we are with today have to do the same with their own games."

Hancock and other elite coaches at the Broncos will be back to run more training camps in July and November.

"It is not about recruitment. This is all about development and helping the game," he said.

Upper Central Zone Rugby League general manager Mel Bennett organised the Broncos coaches to attend.

"We have a partnership with the Broncos so it was a matter of early communication last year to let them know what our vision was for this programme," she said.

"It is our first time in the Ruben Wiki [Challenge] so we wanted to get someone who is really motivating and get that momentum going into next week's games against the Warriors.

"It is exciting for the boys, especially our 14s group because for some of them it is the first time working with anyone from an NRL club. The volunteers and coaches are really excited.

"The Warriors came to our December camp in Hamilton and talked about what the Ruben Wiki Challenge is all about.

"It is an honour and a privilege to have any NRL club come into your training."

Ruben Wiki Challenge Cup
Rotorua International Stadium, Saturday, February 18
11am: Under-14 Upper Central Zone Black v Red
12.15pm: Under-16 Wai-Coa-Bay v Warriors
1.30pm: Under-18 Wai-Coa-Bay v Warriors