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Message: [QUOTE="1910, post: 2636533, member: 8272"] Rod starts Monday. [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Times]FORMER Kumuls international Rod Griffin may be 27, but the good oil suggest he has the talent to make a belated NRL debut for the [URL="http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/category/broncos/"]Broncos[/URL] in 2015. Griffin, a tough forward with the Ipswich Jets in the Intrust Super Cup, is set to join Brisbane for pre-season training when he returns from his honeymoon.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Times]While he has no [URL="http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/category/broncos/"]Broncos[/URL] contract, Jets chairman Steve Johnson insists Griffin has the qualities to realise his dream of playing in the NRL.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Times]“This pre-season opportunity will be good for Rod mentally,” Johnson says.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Times]“He was a Test player, but because of PNG’s funding and politics he and others weren’t selected for (last year’s) World Cup squad after he had worked hard to warrant selection.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Times]“But then he had an absolutely outstanding year at our place when he got himself in outstanding condition to play the style of football that (coaches) Ben and Shane Walker wanted.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Times]“There has never been any doubt that Rod has the ability to play NRL. It is just a question of opportunity.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Times]“That has never arisen for him, but hopefully with Wayne Bennett having a good hard look at what he has to offer he will get that opportunity.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Times]“The [URL="http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/category/broncos/"]Broncos[/URL] do have a strong back-row but at some stage during the year, particularly in the Origin period, he might get a look in.”[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Times]Griffin played prop for the Jets but Johnson says the back-row is the position the [URL="http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/category/broncos/"]Broncos[/URL] will be looking at him for.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Times]“We play a very different style to any other football side in Australia, so while Rod wears 10 on his back he plays as an 11, 12 or 13,” Johnson says.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Times]“Rod is strong and powerful.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Times]“He can play 80 minutes of rugby league.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Times]“He could be a very damaging back-rower at the NRL level because he runs very good lines and has learned to use his feet a lot more under Ben and Shane.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Times]“Rod puts himself away from (opponents’) shoulders these days rather than trying to run over the top of people.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Times]“He has a lot more to offer than when he was a young tearaway in the [URL="http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/category/cowboys/"]Cowboys[/URL] system.”[/FONT][/COLOR] Joel Gould. [/QUOTE]

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