How can a prop (of all positions) not rip in even if he was getting ten or so minutes a match. The big palooka should have been calling for the ball at least one or two runs a set and smashing them.
Where can I find the interview? I never saw that.
I knew you would come through for me with the article BP. I forget where i see the info sometimes (well most times)NRL 2015: Josh Hoffman pushing claims for fullback spot in Gold Coast side
STAR Titans recruit Josh Hoffman approaches Wayne Bennett, smiles and extends a hand to the man who three months ago told him he was not the fullback the Broncos needed. They shake hands without a hint of awkwardness one would expect between an ex-employee and the boss who effectively moved him on.
Bennett was the second coach to deflate Hoffman’s custodian ambition and their meeting was about the 78th time he had been told he wouldn’t fit the No.1 jersey he pined for.
Those who knew Hoffman and at times even those who didn’t realised it hurt and bewildered the Mackay product to be continually overlooked for the spot he won Broncos player of the year for in 2010.
This time last year, he wanted to leave Red Hill because of the frustration of being a backline gap-filler.
Some viewed his desire to leave Brisbane for a fullback role as selfish, others believed he had every right to seek the best outcome for his young family.
The Broncos didn’t agree with Hoffman, adamant he should have sucked it up and done what he was told.
Now settled at the Gold Coast Titans, Hoffman actually agrees with ex-coach Anthony Griffin’s perspective.
At the NRL All Stars team announcement earlier this week, where he saw Bennett for the first time since the new coach told him he was free to leave Red Hill, Hoffman appeared the happiest he had been in a long time.
At Brisbane, he was perennially on a media ban with the club concerned he was too honest.
At his lone post-match interview last season he greeted shocked journalists with a smile and said, “Haven’t seen you guys in a while”.
There is no longer a need to gag Hoffman, he is rid of the baggage he carried during his final year at Brisbane.
“There’s no problems there with Hook. I understand why he did what he did. He was doing the right thing for the team and I get that,” he told The Sunday Mail.
“It actually helped me a lot being shifted around and playing different positions.
“Now if there’s any position to be filled I can do that.
“That adversity, the ups and downs of my time there, has made me a better person and I realise that it all helped me out.
“On and off the field, Hook has helped me out.
“He’s a great coach. He will be back in the NRL somewhere.
“I feel like there’s a weight off my shoulders. I can now concentrate on playing footy.
“When I was going through all that stuff at the Broncos, unsure where I was going to be, I wasn’t happy.
“There’s no hard feelings with Wayne either. There’s no animosity. I know that Wayne has a job to do but he also looks after players.
“I know he always wants to make sure players are in good spirits and that’s what I am.”
Hoffman has not been guaranteed the Titans’ No.1 jersey by coach Neil Henry but he is expected to be given first opportunity and will press his claims at this weekend’s NRL Nines tournament in Auckland.
Hoffman still lives in Brisbane, and with one daughter Leilani Grace and another on the way, is on a 5am wake up, 8pm bed time, routine in order to negate the one hour commute to Southport and back each day.
He has a secret weapon to ease the boredom of driving.
“I get the Miley Cyrus and Britney Spears pumping to get me in the zone for training,” he said smiling.
“I am getting to bed at 8pm then waking at 5am to get going. It is not too bad. I am actually enjoying the drive.
“I really like Neil (Henry).
“He is a sharp shooter. A straight-forward bloke and that’s what I like in a coach.
“I am really happy at the moment.
“There’s a weight off my shoulders. At the Broncos, at the end there, I had no clue what club I was going to be at.
“The Warriors showed interest and wanted me to come over there and meet them.
“It is hard though when I have a little one, a wife and another one on the way.
“If I was going to go to the Warriors she would have had to stay here until she had the baby and I wouldn’t have been happy with that.
“The Four Nations helped me out because I could just focus on the Kiwis and when I got back to Australia I had realised a few things and then I spoke to Neil to see how he viewed me and that was a good talk and it went from there.
“The decision I made is the right one.
“There was some talk with rugby (union) and some things happening there in the background but I feel I want to keep going at league and my chat with Neil made me realise that.”
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...-gold-coast-side/story-fniabrr8-1227195654536
