Mead takes a massive paycut to join Broncos!!!

NEW recruit David Mead has offered to help solve Brisbane’s centre conundrum after taking a whopping $200,000 pay cut in pursuit of a Broncos premiership.Mead was once described by Gold Coast scouts as a young Steve Renouf and now the former Titan believes he can be a matchwinner in the Broncos No. 3 jumper Renouf made famous.Mead’s signing with the Broncos last month was so clandestine he didn’t speak to coach Wayne Bennett, dashing into Red Hill’s offices during the finals to ink a one-year deal.The 28-year-old still hasn’t met Bennett, but with the super coach eyeing centre options following the retirement of Jack Reed, Mead believes he can be a handy weapon on Brisbane’s left edge.“I would look at a centre spot,” said Mead, who impressed in the club’s pre-season 1.5km time trial.Grant refuses to quit: ‘Just a glitch’CONTRACT: Penrith release GrevsmuhlDavid Mead during Broncos training. Photo: Claudia Baxter“I have played some games there during my career so if Wayne is keen to put me in the centres, I will take it with both hands.“I played my junior years in the centres and in the Titans under-20s, so hopefully I can get a starting jersey there or on the wing for Round 1.”Mead endured a bizarre seven-year tenure at the Titans. He was one of the club’s most gifted outside backs but was consistently denied his beloved fullback spot during a 147-game career that netted 67 tries.Such was Mead’s talent, Bennett, away with England on Four Nations duty last month, authorised the Broncos to sign him without a single discussion.“To be honest, I haven’t spoken to Wayne or even met him,” he said.“I was dealing with Peter Nolan (Broncos recruitment chief) and he told me Wayne was keen to have me there.“I still haven’t spoken to him, I didn’t think I’d really need to. I know Wayne’s brother Bob well through the PNG rugby league so that helped influence my decision.”Mead had interest from rugby’s Western Force but took a massive downgrade to chase success at the Broncos.David Mead during Broncos training. Photo: Claudia BaxterClearly, money doesn’t drive Mead, a mentality forged via the lessons experienced by family in his native Papua New Guinea.“Money isn’t everything to me,” he said.“A lot of my relatives in PNG are on minimum wage. They are lucky to earn $200 a fortnight, so compared to them I reckon I’m doing OK.“Thinking like that grounds me and it makes me appreciate the game and I enjoy the game a lot more.“We live in Australia so we can’t complain. Retiring from the NRL and working one day doesn’t scare me. I was happy to take less if it meant I am happy with my football.“I’ve signed for just one year, but I am happy to back myself at a good club. I see this as a club that regularly plays semi-final football and that was the main reason why I chose the Broncos.”

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Replies

Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown November 26, 2016 at 12:46pm

Mr Nolan has his fingers in every pie.
the Eggman November 26, 2016 at 12:53pm

No loss for the Titans Hayne can win games on his own.
Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown November 26, 2016 at 12:55pm
macybrown November 26, 2016 at 1:11pm

None of the Broncos players are driven my money it seems...rare bunch.
John Eel November 26, 2016 at 1:32pm

I am so sick of hearing that Broncos players are taking a paycut to play under Clint Eastwood. I just do not believe it. The sooner the NRL put a notional value on players the better.
- macybrown > John Eel November 26, 2016 at 2:22pm
  
  Seriously, can anyone remember Broncos getting into a bidding war over a player and remember them losing out. Ever!?
Yobz November 26, 2016 at 2:40pm

If a club eg Titans signs a player, the media usually announces the amount complete with TPAs. If the player doesn't receive all expected TPAs, it would be understandable if he signs for another club.
- macybrown > Yobz November 26, 2016 at 2:55pm
  
  Yobz, is it the norm that the amount stated is the on-cap plus TPAs though? I've always been confused about that. Say for eg in Fozs case is that the 150k (TPA) that had to be paid out to him when he left?
  Also I'm not sure if it's for obvious reasons or not, but seemingly for years many of our players wages have been broadcast and yet very rarely do we hear of the amount for Broncos players.
Bup November 26, 2016 at 2:47pm

He didn't take a pay cut ,as I've said previously I have a beer with his father in law most weeks.
- macybrown > Bup November 26, 2016 at 2:59pm
  
  Bup, I totally believe that to be the case.
  It's just getting too monotonous to hear bronco player after player stating they are taking a pay cut. Which technically may be true, but they clean up on their TPAs to top up. Wish they just would shut up with the pay cut line...manly in past years were the same.