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world club challenge 2001, Thaidays debut 2003.Panchitta Marra wrote:Many years ago, in a world club challenge match, two OAP's came toe to toe, and Sculthorpe licked Thaiaday's a** in the fisticuffs.
Thaiaday is too old, and as for being an enforcer as HC has said, he couldnt enforce the OAP's at the Saturday night MECCA bingo session.
The Brisbane Broncos have retained 2008 player-of-the-year Sam Thaiday, but the club has a battle on its hands to hold on to star full-back Karmichael Hunt.
Thaiday's re-signing until the end of 2011 comes in the face of a bidding war for Hunt, with a Japanese rugby union club reportedly offering him $1 million a season to switch codes.
Broncos boss Bruno Cullen says he thinks player-managers are driving the interest from Japan because he doubts officials in Asia would know much about NRL players and how they would adapt to rugby.
"Someone in Australia has got to be driving it and I'd say its the player-managers," he said.
"With all due respect they're not rugby league player-managers, they're player-managers for whatever they can get for that player, whether it be a deal with a soccer team or a rugby union team or a rugby league team or a commercial.
"That's their job and you've got to respect that."
The Broncos have at least retained the services of Thaiday, who has played 81 NRL matches, six State of Origin games for Queensland and two Tests for Australia.
The club says the future captaincy was not offered as an incentive, but 23-year-old Thaiday says he is ready to be a leader at the Broncos.
"I have had to grow up, I've still got a bit of kid brain there, I bring that out every now and then," said Thaiday, who has played 81 NRL matches for Brisbane, six State of Origin games for Queensland and two Tests.
"But seeing a lot of players leave here, I've had to step up and I've kind of embraced that now.
"I'm enjoying the role and the responsibility of it all."
Thaiday confirmed discussions had been held with other clubs but said his preference was to remain in Brisbane.
"I did have a look when it came to re-signing and I had a little sticky beak in other places, but in the back of my mind the Broncos is where my heart was and this pretty much was my first choice," he said.
Mr Cullen said the club was relieved to retain Thaiday's services.
"He's an established member of the NRL squad, is very much a senior player here now, and also an established Origin player," Mr Cullen said.
"Sam brings a lot to the team environment and we certainly hope this isn't the last contract he signs with the Broncos."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009 ... d=newsmail