Kurt Capewell has vowed to bring his winning touch to the Maroons and Broncos as the Penrith premiership utility embarks on a new NRL chapter on Queensland soil. After six years in Sydney carving out a successful NRL career at Cronulla and Penrith, the kid from Charleville returns to the Sunshine State determined to reignite the fortunes of Queensland’s flagship sporting brands, the Maroons and Broncos. Capewell finally climbed the NRL summit last season, winning his maiden premiership ring with the Panthers, and the easy decision would have been to sign a new deal with Ivan Cleary’s kings of the league. But Capewell’s decision to ink a three-year deal with Brisbane not only gives him a chance to help resurrect the Broncos, but press his selection claims for Queensland’s revenge mission under new coach Billy Slater in 2022. Capewell knows well the rollercoaster emotions of State of Origin.
He became FOG No.206 enjoyed the ultimate debut campaign in 2020 as one of 14 debutants blooded by Wayne Bennett. But then came the gut-wrenching crash last year.
With a new coach in charge in Paul Green, Capewell was forced to endure the Queensland collapse, with NSW running riot 50-6 and 26-0 to clinch the series before the Maroons produced a face-saving 20-18 win in Origin III. Slater is one of Queensland’s greatest players, amassing 31 games in a stellar 14-year Origin career, and the Maroons legend has already begun reaching out to several key troops, Capewell included. “We had a dinner with Billy just recently which was good,” Capewell said. “It was the potential Origin players and a fair few of the young boys. “It was awesome. I’m looking forward to this series.” If he maintains his form for the Broncos, Capewell would appear a selection certainty. After a fine maiden campaign in 2020, the Broncos recruit was one of Queensland’s most consistent players last year. He scored the Maroons’ only try in the Game 1 rout in Townsville and, despite being moved to centre, the back-rower largely defended stoutly, even if he had the daunting task of trying to muzzle NSW sensation Tom Trbojevic. “Last year was a pretty tough year for us in the Origin realm,” said Capewell, who has now amassed six Origin games. “We improved in the last game, and came away with a win. We’ve still got plenty to work on. “You can only learn from what happened last year and be better for it this year.” While Slater has no NRL coaching experience, Capewell believes the fullback legend’s understanding of what it takes to succeed in the Origin arena can trigger a Maroons fightback. “Billy is the ultimate professional and I think he’s going to make a great coach,” Capewell said. “I’m not discrediting ‘Greeny’ as he was a great coach, too. “But Billy having played Origin just a few years ago, and bringing some fresh ideas in, will help us out a lot.” Growing up in country Queensland, Capewell vividly remembers another Maroons legend, Darren Lockyer, piloting Brisbane to their last premiership in 2006 and the ultra-reliable back-rower wants to bring the glory days back to the Broncos. “I would love to win a premiership for the club, it would be awesome,” Capewell said. “Being a Queensland kid, I have a soft spot for the Broncos. I remember watching how successful the Broncos were and while they have struggled over the last few years, I want to be part of turning them around. “In a football sense, I want to be part of something special at the Broncos. I want to make Brisbane a top-four club again. “The Broncos should never be anywhere else but the top four, so I want to be a part of it and get the club back up to where it needs to be.” Capewell will replace retired skipper Alex Glenn in the Broncos’ starting back row, and the veteran of 96 NRL games is determined to play a leadership role by educating Brisbane’s emerging players on the standards that drive premiership performance. “The one thing I have learnt from Penrith is that the one percenters mean everything,” he said. “That’s the key to building a premiership club and hopefully I can bring that attitude to the Broncos. “I am looking forward to the challenge of moving to a new team and establishing myself as a leader at the Broncos and teaching some of the younger boys the stuff I have picked up along the way. “I will bring the one percenters, stuff like making my tackles and leading the kick chase, and that’s why ‘Kevvie’ (coach Kevin Walters) got me here.”
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