Each week, The Courier Mail's Pete Badel reports live from Red Hill to give us the latest team news, injury updates and contract sticking points for the three Queensland NRL teams. This week he's got exclusive insight on some major news with QLD stars.
BRISBANE BRONCOS NEWS AND RUMOURS: STRONG FORM NEEDED TO SAVE ALEX GLENN'S BRONCOS CAREER
‘’He’s been in wonderful form in pre-season Alex, he scored a hat-trick against the Titans in their final trial, but there are concerns about his future here at Red Hill,’’ Badel told Sporting News.
‘’He’s off-contract at the end of the season but there’s still no guarantees at this stage that he will get a new deal.
‘’It is obviously contingent upon form and the form of others. There are some young kids coming through here such as Thomas Flegler, David Fifita and Jaydn Su’A of course. They’re signed for a longer term then Alex Glenn but in the coming years they will demand more money and that puts pressure on Alex Glenn, who turns 31 in July.
‘’He needs a big season to secure his future here at Red Hill. There was some talk he would go to the Titans in the off-season, but the Titans don’t have enough financial latitude to fit him into the cap so that gives him a chance to impress here at the Broncos.’’
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS NEWS AND RUMOURS: MATT SCOTT HOPING TO PLAY BEYOND 2019
‘’This is now the litmus test for Matt Scott,’’ Badel said.
‘’Can his body survive in the NRL at his age - in the 30s - after some serious neck and back injuries over the years?
‘’I spoke to Matt Scott the other day and he hasn’t ruled out playing again next season. That is a long way ahead of course but he said he wants to take it a season at a time
‘’The way he started in pre-season, he’s looking good, he’s got the all-clear from the medicos. They say there’s no problems with his neck, so the surgery has been a success and now we have to see how Matt Scott goes this year.’’
GOLD COAST TITANS NEWS AND RUMOURS: SHANNON BOYD CUTS HIS GUT TO MAKE GARTH BRENNAN'S SIDE
‘’An interesting edict from Garth Brennan in pre-season – he weighed Shannon Boyd who was 130kg when he arrived at the Titans and Garth Brennan said to him ‘if you don’t get under 126kg, I am not picking you in the team’,’’ Badel said.
‘’Well done Shannon Boyd, he’s got under that figure and I’m told he’s down to 123kg so he shaved off 7kg from his monstrous frame after a punishing pre-season.
‘’He really put in the hard work and it was shown in the trial against the Broncos. He was outstanding in the first 20 minutes and really set the platform, he really bullied the Broncos in midfield.
‘’The Titans are banking on a big season from Shannon Boyd, let’s hope he can deliver it.’’
