Unbreakable
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- May 21, 2013
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New Bronco: Rising Talent Carlin Anderson - Broncos
The Broncos are excited to have Queensland Intrust Super Cup sensation Carlin Anderson on their playing roster for Season 2016.
Anderson has been one of the hottest backline talents for the Ipswich Jets since joining them in 2014, and this year the ‘super boot’ helped steer them to their NRL State Championship Grand Final victory over the Newcastle Knights with 5/5 goals – four conversions and one penalty goal, from all different angles.
“That was an awesome feeling – especially to be playing before an all-Queensland (NRL) Grand Final and playing before the team I knew I was going to go and train for the next year,” Anderson said.
“You are used to playing in front of two or three thousand and suddenly you are playing in front of tens of thousands of people.
“I remember running out and looking up and seeing people sitting in the very top row of (ANZ) Stadium”.
His freakish football skills also landed him a wonderful solo try against the Northern Pride in the Week One Elimination Semi-Final of the Intrust Super Cup, as he engineered four consecutive soccer kicks from halfway to over the white line in a very entertaining game of rugby league.
19-year-old Anderson now has a 12-month deal at Red Hill with coach Wayne Bennett being able to keep an eye on the Ipswich players since 2015 pre-season training started, with the Jets being a Broncos feeder club that also unearthed hooker utility Matt Parcell.
But while Parcell has since signed with the Manly Sea Eagles, this Indigenous winger and now fullback is determined to chase his NRL dreams under Bennett.
Anderson certainly recalls training with the Broncos players last year heading into Season 2015.
“It was a great experience.”
“But then I went back to Ipswich and was just happy to be playing back there on the wing.
But in our second or third game of the year our fullback got injured and the Walker boys (Ben & Shane Walker – Ipswich Jets Co-Coaches) put me back to fullback.
I hadn’t had much experience back there and it was a lot harder than I thought it would be.
He scored 11 tries in 18 games in his rookie 2014 campaign last year and added a further seven this season, impressing all with his footwork, finishing skills, speed, toughness and great game awareness and instincts.
The former Ipswich Grammar student has incredibly represented Queensland in four sports already — rugby league, rugby union, cricket and softball.
At 16 years of age, he also spent a week in Canberra with former Education Minister Peter Garrett as part of a government program designed to give Indigenous pupils an insight into the world of politics.
But now, on the eve of pre-season training kicking off, Anderson is aiming for NRL level experience.
“I have felt it before so I know what to expect.”
It’s why I have got away a bit to do some training before I have to start – I’ve been trying to work hard.
“I want to give it a really good shot this year.”