Brisbane Broncos

Hunt's heroics were not enough, with the Broncos falling 21-20 to the Cowboys in another exhilarating golden point contest at Suncorp Stadium. 

Despite the loss, there are positive signs for Brisbane and their fans, with Hunt putting in an inspiring 80-minute performance. 

After receiving a lot of criticism during the week about his poor kicking performance in Round 1, Hunt bounced back in a big way and sent a message to his critics. 

Drahm played 49 matches for the Reds in a five-year Super Rugby career before moving to England in 2001. 

His time in England brought with it a number of goal kicking records, slotting over 400 conversions and penalties in his 134 matches for Bristol, Northampton and Worcester. 

The Broncos led from start to finish on the back of their superior ball-handling skills in greasy conditions, but they had to survive a second-half assault from a Cronulla side spurred on by a parochial home crowd on Thursday night. 

A lot has changed since then, but one thing that hasn't is the lofty standards placed on Brisbane at the start of each season. 

2017 will be much the same, albeit without their inspirational captain who retired at the end of the 2016 season. 

McGuire would be following in former captain Corey Parker's footsteps if he made the positional change, with Parker often playing in the front row before his permanent move to lock in 2009. 

Parker's retirement last year has given coach Wayne Bennett a major decision to make as the 2017 NRL season fast approaches. 

New signing Benji Marshall will feature up in the backline alongside other star names including Anthony Milford, James Roberts and Darius Boyd.

With the likes of Adam Blair, Andrew McCullogh and Matt Gillett also selected it's hard to see the side struggling this year.

The Broncos will fancy their chances in a group with the Melbourne Storm, Newcastle Knights and Wests Tigers.

BRONCOS’ NRL AUCKLAND NINES SQUAD

Alex Barr

Adam Blair

Darius Boyd

Gerome Burns

Mitch Cronin

Matt Gillett

Akin to watching the normally unflappable Darren Lockyer fall to the ground and punch the Suncorp Stadium turf when the Storm stole away a semi-final win in the final minute in 2008, Boyd saw in an instant a premiership victory evaporate into thin air.

The Broncos hit the paddock at the University of Queensland on Wednesday morning in a teal training kit, much different to their traditional maroon and gold colours.

The brighter shade was a throwback to the infamous teal jersey of 1998 and 2002 which is regarded as one of the club’s less popular designs.

It is also the colour of the city’s Big Bash League team Brisbane Heat, who have won three of their four games this summer.

Marshall’s manager Martin Tauber revealed how a heart-to-heart with Bennett saved his NRL career, with the veteran playmaker telling the super coach: “I don’t want to retire.”

Bennett’s lifeline to Marshall is genuine with Brisbane’s recruitment-and-retention committee to rubberstamp a contract offer by Friday.

One of the longest-serving members of the Titans and the club's all-time leading try-scorer, Mead advised teammates that he would be joining Brisbane on a one-year deal immediately after the Broncos ended their season in the elimination final last Friday.

He followed that up with an Instagram post on the Saturday morning confirming the move but has declined the opportunity to speak about his decision until now.