NRL 2022: Brisbane Broncos add club great Matt Gillett to game development team

Former Maroons and Australian representative Matt Gillett has been added to Brisbane’s game development team this week, which will see him grow the game at a grassroots level in the Brisbane region.

The 33-year-old joins the likes of Broncos legend Michael Hancock, Michael DeVere, Jack Reed and David Staggs in co-ordinating school and junior club-based rugby league across the southeast Queensland region as the club continues to seed itself at a grassroots level.

Broncos game development manager Paul Dyer admitted the club could benefit if it attracted a whole new generation of talent from the program but was adamant the focus was more on growing the game of rugby league.

Asked whether the battle lines had been drawn for incoming NRL club the Dolphins, Dyer said: “It’s not a battle ground when it comes to game development.

“Game development is about getting as many coaches educated as possible so that when they’re working with those kids, they all have a great experience.

“It’s also about educating young players to try and help them for when they take the field so that it’s safe and an environment that they enjoy.

“If what goes with that is that the boys, or coaches, teachers or schools that we’re associated with become fans of the Broncos, then that’s fantastic and we love that.”

Dyer said more needed to be done at the grassroots level in rugby league and hoped the introduction of the Dolphins would help with that.

“This program was started way back in the late 80s, early 90s, by our then coach Wayne Bennett, so I know how passionate he is about this space,” he said.

“The thing that really excites me (with the introduction of the Dolphins) is that we potentially see more guys like Matt (Gillett) running around in Queensland, representing an NRL club brand, which one day hopefully those kids will want to be a part of.

“While we’re the Broncos here, and we have a strong and proud history here in Queensland and we’ll continue to do what we do in this space, I would love to see all the clubs as heavily involved as we are in this space.

“It’s only going to benefit the game.”

Gillett said he was excited to join the program and hoped to foster the next generation of rugby league talent.

“We’re one of the biggest development clubs in the NRL and it’s something we pride ourselves on,” Gillett said.

“We’re making sure we’re getting out there to schools and clubs.

“It’s all about the kids at the end of the day and getting them involved in rugby league and keep them enjoying the game.

“I’m a big kid at heart and doing my part to path the way for a few future Broncos players.”