Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="GCBRONCO, post: 2545078, member: 1808"] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue][B][SIZE=2][B][url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/brisbane-broncos-strongman-david-hala-looks-to-repay-the-club-following-injury/story-fniabm4i-1226761307581]No Cookies | The Courier-Mail[/url] BOASTING a club-record bench press of 195kg, David Hala has a fair claim to being the strongest man in the NRL.[/B][/SIZE][/B][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue][SIZE=2]Now the Broncos hulk admits the heavy weight of expectation is resting on his shoulders as Hala fights to secure his future at Red Hill.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue][SIZE=2]The 24-year-old has impressed Broncos teammates with his prowess in the gym, but Hala concedes it is time to make a statement where it matters most on the field.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue][SIZE=2]Off-contract at the end of next season, Hala is playing for his future as he makes his way back from a shoulder reconstruction remarkably the 10th operation of his career.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue][SIZE=2]"I'm off-contract so I want to pay them back," said Hala, who enters his sixth season of NRL in 2014.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue][SIZE=2]"I really want to stay at the Broncos, this is home and it's where I want to be.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue][SIZE=2]"After everything I've been through, it makes me hungry to succeed. The Broncos have helped me through all these injuries and they have always told me I can always get back.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue][SIZE=2]"That's the reason why I keep going, they just give me motivation and have done so much for me.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue][SIZE=2]"It's time I paid them back." [/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue][SIZE=2]Ask Hala to recount his injuries and it reads like a Who's Who of the human anatomy. He has had surgery on his left and right shoulders. A knee operation. Compartment syndrome in both calves. A lower-back problem, not to mention additional surgery to his hip and foot.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue][SIZE=2]The slew of setbacks have restricted Hala to just 30 NRL games since his debut in 2009, but it has only fuelled his desire to succeed at the Broncos.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue][SIZE=2]"I've had some dark times. I've had about 10 operations and it is never a good time, trying to fight your way back," he said.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue][SIZE=2]"To be honest, I haven't rolled off a good pre-season of training and gone through the year injury-free.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue][SIZE=2]"Every year at the Broncos I have had a niggling injury and played half of what I can do.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue][SIZE=2]"I want to show people this year that I'm more than just an impact player off the bench." [/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue][SIZE=2]Hala played 13 games for the Broncos last season but the arrival of 118kg former Roosters prop Martin Kennedy has intensified competition for forward berths in 2014.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue][SIZE=2]Hala has begun pre-season weighing 116kg, the heaviest of his career, but is determined to shed some kilos in time for the premiership kick-off.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue][SIZE=2]"I want to play at 113kg," he said.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue][SIZE=2]"A lot of the front-rowers these days are around that size and really fit. They can play good minutes, we probably don't have the size to match it with the bigger teams and I want to be that guy for us.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue][SIZE=2]"I want to play more minutes, I want to make sure I'm playing consistent footy and getting the job done."[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR] [/QUOTE]

Verification

Active Now

No members online now.

Total: 16 (members: 0, guests: 16)

Reply to thread

Log in

Active Now