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 No sign of split at Broncos: Kenny 

No sign of split at Broncos: Kenny

28/08/2008 1:30:52 PM

Broncos forward Nick Kenny says there is no disharmony in the Brisbane ranks despite a week of stinging criticism and revelations of a split between coaches Wayne Bennett and Ivan Henjak.

Kenny, who also announced a new two-year deal with the club, said the playing group was unaware of a fraying in the relationship between Dragons-bound Bennett and next year's head coach Henjak.

Henjak this week revealed the backdrop of player defections, including the poaching of Origin winger Darius Boyd to St George-Illawarra, had taken a toll on his relationship with Bennett.

The pair spoke little at training this morning, with Henjak working on exercises with the outside backs and a group of French players while Bennett oversaw the main session at the other end of the field.

But Kenny said the players had detected no signs of tension between the pair and it was not affecting the unity of the club.

"Not really mate. No. I haven't noticed anything," Kenny said.

Kenny also refuted suggestions from Broncos great Gordon Tallis that Brisbane were soft and didn't have the forward pack to put a dent in the NRL's big guns.

The 26-year-old said Brisbane's pack was completing "extras" after every session and had enough self-belief to rattle any opponent.

"A month ago we had two absolutely brilliant games. We all played great against Cronulla and the Raiders. We had a really good effort last week. It was a tough game and we all dug in and fought really hard," Kenny said.

"There's a lot of confidence in the pack. We're really happy with how we're going. We're all doing extras and we're a tight unit. We're full of confidence."

Kenny is one of Brisbane's feel-good stories, a vastly improved player and an honest contributor on and off the field.

He has been at the club for six years, playing much of it in the Queensland Cup before seriously dallying with first-grade over the past two seasons.

Off the field, he works one day a week as a physiotherapist, making him one of the few Broncos players that combine football with a career outside the game.

"It's a big relief. I really wanted to stay here so I'm very happy to be here again next year," Kenny said of his deal, structured as a one-year agreement with an option for a second.

"I never wanted to go to another club. But it was just a matter of waiting, talking through the amount of money. It took a bit of time to get there but I'm just glad it did."

With a number of forwards, including Greg Eastwood and Ben Hannant, leaving the club next year, Kenny said he would be pushing for a starting role as Henjak takes the reins in his rookie year as head coach.

"With a few guys leaving next year there may the opportunity to push a run-on spot and that's what my personal goal is. That's what I'm hoping to achieve next year," Kenny said.

Brisbane play the Bulldogs in Sydney on Sunday, needing a win to keep their hopes of a home semi-final in tact.

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16/12/2008 | So we now have desperate parents attempting to bribe teachers to get their children into a selective high school. What a sad indictment of our education policies, the holy grail of which is parental choice.
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