Broncos give back to UQ

Spirits were boosted at UQ Sport yesterday thanks to an unexpected visit from the Brisbane Broncos.

Fourteen players including Corey Parker, Dane Carlaw, Ben Te’o and Matt Gillett showed their support of UQ Sport’s flood recovery effort by cooking a barbeque for the staff and volunteers who helped with the clean-up.

The visit ended with a social game of touch football in front of the iconic Forgan Smith Building.

The UQ Athletics Centre, currently closed due to flooding, has provided a pre-season training venue for the Broncos since 2006.

Broncos vice-captain Corey Parker said the team wanted to give something back to their second home and were committed to doing all they could to help out with the flood recovery efforts around Brisbane.

“Brisbane is a widespread place and there’s a lot to be done but we try to get out three times a week to different things,” he said.

“We’ve been supported for a number of years and now it’s time that we support those that have been affected.”

The Broncos will play their first trial game of 2011 this Saturday against the Gold Coast Titans at Kougari Oval, Wynnum.

The game will be preceded by Queensland Cup, A Grade, and Under-20 matches between the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and the Norths Devils.

UQ Sport’s very own Anthony Wood is the strength and conditioning coach for the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

Mr Wood said Wynnum Manly’s Queensland Cup team were well prepared for the match after a promising pre-season.

“The boys have done well to reach their strength and fitness targets so I’m sure they’ll put on a great curtain raiser for the big game,” Mr Wood said.

UQ Sport’s high performance division provides strength and conditioning services for several other elite sporting teams and organisations including Netball Queensland, Rowing Queensland, Softball Queensland and Ski Racing Queensland.

Mr Wood said UQ Sport’s high performance gym, where many of his athletes train, was among those facilities affected by the floods.

“The whole room was flooded but we’ve been able to continue our services as normal thanks to the public gym here and a few off-campus locations like the Queensland Academy of Sport,” he said.

“The other flood-affected facilities don’t have that luxury which is a big hurdle for the organisation, but things like today’s visit from the Broncos certainly keep our spirits high.”

Media: Simon Byrne (simonb@uqs.com.au, 07 3346 7518)