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Message: [QUOTE="Morkel, post: 2543464, member: 8215"] Thought I'd start a thread that encompassed the whole 2014 season. Interesting notes from the first day of training. McCullough wins the beep test. Guess who comes second - Hannant!!! Barba offered counselling by the club (as you'd expect). [url=http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/ben-barba-begins-preseason-training-with-brisbane-broncos-offered-counselling-by-club/story-fndujljl-1226754097868]Ben Barba begins pre-season training with Brisbane Broncos, offered counselling by club | News.com.au[/url] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Trebuchet MS][B]BRISBANE coach Anthony Griffin says the club will offer counselling to Ben Barba to ensure the big-name recruit does not go off the rails in his career-defining move to the Broncos.[/B] [/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Trebuchet MS]Barba was among several fresh faces to report for the start of Brisbane's pre-season on Wednesday morning, with Stewart Mills (Cronulla) and Todd Lowrie (Warriors) also meeting their new Broncos teammates.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Trebuchet MS]Hooker Andrew McCullough stole the show at Purtell Park, winning the beep test to be crowned Brisbane's fittest man, while prop Ben Hannant also impressed, finishing second.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Trebuchet MS]Several of the club's big guns were absent, with Sam Thaiday and Corey Parker on World Cup duty, while ace centre Justin Hodges is recovering from a ruptured Achilles.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Trebuchet MS]But all eyes were on Barba, who did some light running in isolation as he recovers from ankle surgery following the finals mishap that ended his career at Canterbury on a sombre note.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Trebuchet MS]The fullback sensation applied ice to his ankle after the session, but it was only precautionary, with Barba ahead of schedule and eyeing a return to full-time training in early December.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Trebuchet MS]For now, Griffin insists Barba's mental health is of equal concern. The 24-year-old admits he "lost control of who I was" during his nightmare 2013 campaign at the Bulldogs, and the Broncos are ready to provide professional help to ensure Barba flourishes on and off the field. "If he requires that (counselling) ... yep, we'll obviously help with that," Griffin said.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Trebuchet MS]"I know Paul White (Broncos CEO) and Andrew Gee (operations chief) have been in constant contact with Ben and his family to make sure they are settling in well.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Trebuchet MS]"As with any of our other players, whatever they require, we'll make sure he has everything he needs to make sure he is happy and plays his best footy.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Trebuchet MS]"We would like to think we look after our players and whether it's Ben Barba or anyone else, we make sure they are catered for."[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Trebuchet MS]Griffin is pleased with the manner in which Barba has adjusted to life at his new club, but is wary of placing too much pressure on the Queensland Origin hopeful.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Trebuchet MS]"It's nice to see to him here, he is ahead of schedule with his recovery," he said.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Trebuchet MS]"The key for Ben is that he just concentrates on his recovery and we all don't get ahead of ourselves and start talking about what he might or might not do on the field.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Trebuchet MS]"He's had a tough year both physically and emotionally, he has been with the Bulldogs for a long time and he's at a new club. The real key is to make sure we look after him on and off the field.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Trebuchet MS]"He is doing a good job settling in, he has been helping our development people at clinics so he is already making a contribution. He is settling in well with his family. [/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Trebuchet MS]"There is no pressure or expectations on him."[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Trebuchet MS]Griffin is confident Barba's arrival will not force Josh Hoffman out of the club, despite the Kiwi Test fullback conveying his disenchantment prior to his departure to the World Cup.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Trebuchet MS]"I'm not concerned, no," Griffin said.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Trebuchet MS]"The only thing I keep saying about that issue is that no matter who it is, whether it is Josh Hoffman or Ben Barba, they are players in a team and they will play where it best suits their team at the time.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Trebuchet MS]"That is as clear as I can make it. We are a team here, everyone is accountable to each other and I will pick the team on what I think best suits at the time.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Trebuchet MS]"The rest will take care of itself."[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Trebuchet MS]Griffin said he was impressed with the fitness of his troops, who have been issued a program by new high-performance manager Alex Corvo.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Trebuchet MS]"Alex has been in contact with them via email since he has had the job and they have all been given targets and some preliminary work before they got here," he said.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Trebuchet MS]"It was a little fitness test for them today and this group probably won't hit full training until Monday.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Trebuchet MS]"It was just about testing them today.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Trebuchet MS]"They did really well, they hit a pretty good mark, it's one of those things they have to go through every year, you have to start somewhere and they all did a pretty good job today."[/FONT][/COLOR] [/QUOTE]

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