The aspirations of Jock Madden, the Broncos‘ playmaker, to take over the No. 7 jersey from Adam Reynolds are clear. This role is also eyed by Coby Black, the sensational schoolboy athlete.
This Saturday night, Madden is set to battle his old club Wests in Campbelltown. This follows reports of an attempt from newly appointed Tigers coach Benji Marshall to poach him back to Concord.
Ever since his move to Brisbane last year, Madden will get to represent the Broncos for the third time in a row. This will be his longest streak of back-to-back NRL games.
Madden’s motivation to leave the Tigers in the 2022 season was to be mentored by Reynolds at Red Hill. His dream was to become Brisbane’s future long-serving halfback.
Black is a strong contender for the No. 7 jersey, having joined Brisbane’s full-time squad just recently. He finished school last year and is currently making his transition to the NRL.
With Adam Reynold’s retirement expected in 2025, the important position of Broncos halfback will soon be up for grabs. The 24-year-old Madden, however, is determined he will be the one to claim it.
“I re-signed with the intent of enduring until 2026,” he stated, “I am fully confident in my abilities. My move to Brisbane was motivated by the hunger for opportunity.”
Madden’s plan is to absorb as much knowledge from “Reyno” as possible and succeed him post-retirement. He believes he can contribute significantly to teammates Ezra Mam and Reece Walsh as well.
“Over the coming years, this will form the foundation of something truly powerful,” Madden said optimistically.
The No. 7 jersey of the Broncos has seen a fair share of challenges since Allan Langer’s noteworthy performance in the 1990s.
Following a successful stint by Peter Wallace, the former NSW Origin halfback, Ben Hunt took over till the 2015 Grand Final. Only Reynolds has seemed completely comfortable in the role since then.
Although the Broncos are positive about Black’s future, Madden has a chance to prove why he is the rightful heir to Reynolds.
Madden expressed his enjoyment in playing in the major leagues as he gets ready to team up with Reynolds against the Tigers.
“My focus is on preparing well each week and to seize the opportunity when it comes. My ongoing interaction with Reynolds has also been beneficial. He provides helpful feedback, guides me with game clips and constantly asks how I can better my performance. He’s a fantastic mentor for me,” said Madden.
Madden’s limited yet successful stint at Red Hill prompted the Tigers to attempt to reacquire him. He had previously played 17 NRL games for them between 2021 and 2022.
Chris Orr, Madden’s manager, confirmed that the Tigers showed interest, but due to delays in contract offerings, Madden decided to move to the Broncos. This was also fuelled by the prospect of learning from Reynolds and being a part of the succession plan.
“Now that Benji is back, they again showed interest, with Penrith also showing curiosity,” Orr said. “However, Madden remained loyal to the Broncos and agreed to extend his contract. He’s very satisfied.”
He added that Madden surely has the potential to succeed Reynolds as a genuine NRL playmaker.
Comparing Madden’s current situation to a substitute school teacher, he said, “Jock’s momentum can be disrupted as he only gets to play every few weeks. But once he gets to play full-time, he will not disappoint the Broncos.”