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In-stadium commentary at Mt SmartBlood pouring: The punch up that galvanised the Broncos
Corey Parker • May 22nd, 2025 2:51 pm
When we were in a slump back in maybe 2010, we had ideas and ways of how we get ourselves out of it.
Is it just a good old-fashioned go to the go to the rub-a-dub-dub (pub) and lock in and have a good old couple of beers together? Sometimes that does work but one story really springs to mind.
Anthony Griffin was the head coach and we were going like busteds. We get into training at Red Hill and he called a meeting with the senior players. He said, 'righto boys, we're trying this, we're not going training, we're going to the boxing gym'.
So we get in our cars and we go to Griffith Uni and he gave this big spiel.
He said, 'boys, this is time of the season, this is when we need to fight, so if we're going to fight, that's what we're going to do, and it includes everyone'.
'Hook' (Griffin's nickname) is part of the training group and he's in Hodgo's group.
We're just warming up on the bags and he's in the in the ring and it's on, like we're fighting.
So for four or five minutes in and Hook's got Justin Hodges.
Hook looks like he's an old man. He's got blood pouring out of his nose and Hodges just jabbing him and jabbing him.
Everyone's looking around half laughing and half saying 'this is serious'.
Hook was saying 'we need to fight and I need to show some leadership and it doesn't matter if I get my nose punched in here or not'.
We would rotate through the drills and then it was my turn to get in the ring - full body shots, but nothing in the head.
So me and Ben Hannant we get in the middle and we are swinging like absolute lunatics, just trying to knock each other out.
This is when we're in this form slump, I'm not sure it actually achieved anything but it was certainly a bit of fun. Anthony Griffin jumped in the ring, got his nose punched off.
It was certainly something I won't ever forget. Hodgo was laughing, just punching this old man in the face.
There's something about doing things like that and stepping out your comfort zone, seeing the coach do that and it galvanises you.
Breakfast with Corey Parker & Ian Healy – Monday to Friday from 6am-9am – LIVE on Brisbane’s SENQ 693am and the SEN app
