Super Freak
International Captain
Forum Staff
- Jan 25, 2014
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TRUST from his coach and his mates in the Broncos pack has made Joe Ofahengaue part of one of the NRL season’s most unusual streaks.
Like all six starting forwards and his three pack mates off bench, Ofahengaue has played in all seven games this year.
Brisbane’s premiership lead is built on continuity as well as every other important ingredient.
Fifteen Broncos have turned out in every NRL round, with Corey Oates (four games) and Jack Reed (four) the only first-choice players to not have perfect attendance records this season.
Ofahengaue has played more minutes before halftime in recent weeks, with coach Wayne Bennett willing to give the 20-year-old more responsibility.
Ofahengaue’s average of 78 run metres attests to his greater exposure this year, as he averaged 54m last year in his 11 games.
“I’m pretty happy with how the team is going and how much trust they have in me now,’’ Ofahengaue said “It’s about building performances.
“I wasn’t too happy with my performance last week even though we won. (I had) two dropped balls and copped that head knock.
“As long as I improve every week, that’s important. When the starters come off, we have to make sure we keep the intensity up when we come on from the bench and dent the line.’’
Ofahengaue played 26 minutes in the middle of the field and managed 75m in Brisbane’s 53-0 thrashing of Newcastle. Sam Thaiday was given 43 minutes, Jarrod Wallace 30 and Kodi Nikorima 23.
Importantly, Ofahengaue, Nikorima and Wallace all played the last seven games of last season together on the bench, a campaign in which Thaiday started and Mitchell Dodds settled into an interchange role all the way to grand final day.
Auckland-born Ofahengaue says he would not be a forward if he did not like collisions and he hopes to continue learning from Thaiday and Corey Parker.
“He had a good season last year and learned a lot about the NRL,’’ teammate Matt Gillett said.
“He’s doing a great job this year and he’s putting in every minute he’s on the field. A big bopper too.’’
Ofahengaue played off the bench in Brisbane’s eye-opening 47-12 thrashing of South Sydney, tomorrow night’s opponents at Suncorp Stadium, in round 25 last year.
But there’s one key addition to the midfield match-ups of the two teams.
“I have never played against big Sam Burgess,’’ he said.
“Being a star forward in the NRL, I look up to him. He gives all his best to the team for 80 minutes. It will be pretty crazy against a pack like theirs.’’
The 20-year-old is contracted until the end of next year.
“If I play good footy I can hopefully stay here,’’ he said.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...e/news-story/7f64fed0e64c92f1612d9c12a1194bab
Like all six starting forwards and his three pack mates off bench, Ofahengaue has played in all seven games this year.
Brisbane’s premiership lead is built on continuity as well as every other important ingredient.
Fifteen Broncos have turned out in every NRL round, with Corey Oates (four games) and Jack Reed (four) the only first-choice players to not have perfect attendance records this season.
Ofahengaue has played more minutes before halftime in recent weeks, with coach Wayne Bennett willing to give the 20-year-old more responsibility.
Ofahengaue’s average of 78 run metres attests to his greater exposure this year, as he averaged 54m last year in his 11 games.
“I’m pretty happy with how the team is going and how much trust they have in me now,’’ Ofahengaue said “It’s about building performances.
“I wasn’t too happy with my performance last week even though we won. (I had) two dropped balls and copped that head knock.
“As long as I improve every week, that’s important. When the starters come off, we have to make sure we keep the intensity up when we come on from the bench and dent the line.’’
Ofahengaue played 26 minutes in the middle of the field and managed 75m in Brisbane’s 53-0 thrashing of Newcastle. Sam Thaiday was given 43 minutes, Jarrod Wallace 30 and Kodi Nikorima 23.
Importantly, Ofahengaue, Nikorima and Wallace all played the last seven games of last season together on the bench, a campaign in which Thaiday started and Mitchell Dodds settled into an interchange role all the way to grand final day.
Auckland-born Ofahengaue says he would not be a forward if he did not like collisions and he hopes to continue learning from Thaiday and Corey Parker.
“He had a good season last year and learned a lot about the NRL,’’ teammate Matt Gillett said.
“He’s doing a great job this year and he’s putting in every minute he’s on the field. A big bopper too.’’
Ofahengaue played off the bench in Brisbane’s eye-opening 47-12 thrashing of South Sydney, tomorrow night’s opponents at Suncorp Stadium, in round 25 last year.
But there’s one key addition to the midfield match-ups of the two teams.
“I have never played against big Sam Burgess,’’ he said.
“Being a star forward in the NRL, I look up to him. He gives all his best to the team for 80 minutes. It will be pretty crazy against a pack like theirs.’’
The 20-year-old is contracted until the end of next year.
“If I play good footy I can hopefully stay here,’’ he said.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...e/news-story/7f64fed0e64c92f1612d9c12a1194bab
