Mead confident of form despite being oldest at Broncos

PAPUA New Guinea international and veteran Brisbane Bronco David Mead says he is still in good shape as he aims to prolong is National Rugby League (NRL) career and play in another World Cup next year.
While star recruit Adam Reynolds is bringing plenty of experience from his time at Redfern, which includes a premiership win, eight finals campaigns and two Origin caps, 33-year-old Mead admitted that he was now the oldest player at Red Hill.
“The age call comes in a bit, especially here at training, I think I’m the oldest in the squad now, but the legs are still working really well,” he laughed.
“It’s just about me prepping myself well every day … I’ll keep going as long as I can, as long as I’m still enjoying it.
“(I just want to) be competitive and try and play first grade more consistently next season.
“Last year, from an individual standpoint, it was probably a bit frustrating being in and out.
“But that’s a part of NRL, you have to be competitive and be consistent to play first grade regularly.”
With Jordan Pereira and Brenko Lee joining the club, and young guns like Selwyn Cobbo emerging, Mead will need to be at his best if he is to add to his tally of 171 career games.
“Selwyn is one of those guys you put him on the wing, centre, fullback, he’ll do the job really well, especially in a couple of years,” Mead said.
“For me, fullback or centre is probably his spot, flip a coin for one of those two.”
Mead got a good look at Cobbo’s capabilities, alongside another young gun in TC Robati, as the trio enjoyed a successful Hostplus Cup finals campaign with Wynnum Manly, losing 10-16 to the Devils in the grand final.
“They’ve obviously got a bit more experience now in first grade and they’re still learning their apprenticeship here and in the Hostplus Cup, so they’ll be more consistent this year,” he said.
“Especially those two guys. TC is obviously a big body and hard to handle.
“So he and Cobbo will be hard to stop.”
Meanwhile, Reynolds is already having an impact at Red Hill, despite not even being due back at training yet.
Former Rabbitohs skipper Reynolds has stopped in for a few sessions already even though his grand final commitments earned him a longer rest, in a move that impressed his new teammates, according to Mead.
“Reynolds has joined the squad a couple of times throughout the year which has brought a lot of excitement and enthusiasm from a lot of the young guys,” Mead said.
“He has played at the top level for a long time, he’s an experienced halfback, knows how to organise.
Reynolds’ early return “says something about what he expects from himself joining a new club.
“He wanted to take on the challenge away from Sydney and he’s certainly doing that,” he said. – NRL