Dec 18th, 2017

Dec 18th, 2017

Broncos linked to barnstorming winger

The Broncos have been linked with barnstorming England World Cup winger Jermaine McGillvary.

McGillvary was one of the discoveries of the tournament and formed a close bond with Lions coach Wayne Bennett - who just happens to coach the Broncos.

With Brisbane losing tryscoring ace David Mead (Catalan Dragons) last week, on top of the earlier departure of Tautau Moga (Newcastle Knights), the club is on the lookout for outside backs.

Brisbane Broncos are keen on luring Jermaine McGillvary to the club next season. (AAP)

And Huddersfield Giants winger McGillvary could be a sensation on the end of the red-hot Broncos backline.

The 29 year old has scored over 100 tries for the Giants as well as 10 in his 12 appearances for England.

He is contracted to Huddersfield for 2018 - but the two clubs could work out a transfer deal or player swap.

Knight keen to rescue Bulldogs

FORGOTTEN Newcastle five-eighth Jack Cogger wants to be the man to solve Canterbury’s halfback problems.

The Bulldogs are desperate for a number seven for next season and Cogger wants out of the Knights to fill the spot.

The Knights have a host of halves ahead of Cogger in the pecking order including Trent Hodkinson, new boys Mitchell Pearce and Connor Watson and Brock Lamb.

Cogger, aged 20, is a former Australian Schoolboy with a big future.

Newcastle five-eighth Jack Cogger is keen to head to Canterbury to solve their halfback problems. (AAP)

But the son of Wests Magpies legend Trevor Cogger has played just eight NRL games since debuting in 2016 and is unlikely to add many matches to that tally next year.

The Knights are believed to be prepared to release Cogger, but the Bulldogs have salary cap problems and will need to release a player in order to sign him.

Refs howling over restructure

Referees are howling at the restructure that has seen Tony Archer kicked upstairs and one of his disciples, Bernard Sutton, taking over the day to day running of operations.

The refs were hoping Michael Maguire would take over the lead role but he will only be an advisor - similar to the job Ivan Cleary did last year before joining the Tigers.

NRL referees are not happy with the restructure to their ranks, after being informed of them by former boss Tony Archer. (AAP)

Archer called all the referees on a conference call to tell them of the changes last week - and the silence was deafening.

Knives out for Kiwi boss

The knives are out in New Zealand following the Kiwis’ dismal failure at the World Cup, coupled with the Warriors’ continual run of outs at NRL level.

The NZRL is currently conducting a review into the state of the game in the Shaky Isles in the wake of the dual failures - and it goes right to the top.

The word I am hearing is that NZRL boss Alex Hayton may fall on his sword - with the Kiwis set to look in a new direction in a bid to resurrect the code in the country.

Garth backs Titans bonding session

New Titans coach Garth Brennan is doing his best to get the harmony back to what was an unhappy playing group in 2017.

Recently appointed Gold Coast Titans coach Garth Brennan took the team for a bonding session. (AAP)

One of my spies spotted the Titans players engaged in a good old fashioned bonding session a couple of weeks ago at the Wallaby Hotel in Mudgeeraba.

It was a case of downing shots all around - coaches included - but the players were well behaved and respectful and Brennan has obviously decided that getting the players all on the same page is one of his first tasks at the Titans.