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BRISBANE - One of the Brisbane National Rugby League club's biggest fans became their signing coup of 2007 when former Queensland Origin utility PJ Marsh was surprisingly unveiled as a Broncos player today.
Marsh last wore Broncos colours as a 13-year-old when he received hand-me-down training gear from mates on Brisbane scholarships at his central Queensland home of Gladstone.
Fourteen years later Marsh fulfilled a "childhood dream" by gaining a release from Parramatta and signing a three-year Broncos deal.
Marsh, 27, answered an SOS in the wake of Brisbane's sacking of hookers Ian Lacey and John Te Reo for breaching the club's code of conduct last month.
The deal was only completed in a flurry of phone calls today.
"As a kid the Broncos were the team you wanted to play for as a Queenslander, growing up in central Queensland they were my heroes," Marsh said.
He was one of five new faces shown off by Brisbane today, lining up alongside Joel Clinton, Peter Wallace (both Penrith), Ashton Sims and Tom Hewitt (both St George Illawarra).
They face the task of filling the holes left by the likes of departed stars Shaun Berrigan, Petero Civoniceva (Penrith), Brad Thorn (rugby), Dane Carlaw (France) and Brent Tate (Warriors).
Marsh, a former New Zealand Warrior, admitted he first entertained thoughts of moving to Brisbane when utility Berrigan announced in mid-year that he would be leaving for England next season.
The idea gained momentum after Lacey and Te Reo received their marching orders.
Marsh had a year left on his Parramatta deal but was told by the Eels that he would not have his contract extended beyond 2008.
"Parramatta is in a position where they have to free up some funds, they've got a number of stars coming off (contract), they are stuck under the cap," Marsh's manager Jim Banaghan said.
"They told us they couldn't sign PJ past next year and gave us the option, because of his long service, that if we were able to find him an opportunity that they wouldn't stand in his way."
Banaghan said Marsh did not move because he was unhappy.
"It's the economics of rugby league. The cap's biting in - it's not about anyone being unhappy," he said.
But there was no doubt Marsh was very happy at his new home.
"I remember when I heard Shaun Berrigan was leaving the club I said to my wife `gee it would be nice to be able to go to Brisbane'," Marsh said.
"It's close to my family. It's home. It was a childhood dream to play for the Broncos."
Marsh rated 2007 as one of his most consistent seasons, playing in all 27 Eels games as they powered into the finals.
In all Marsh played 108 games for the Eels in separate stints from 2000-01 and 2004-07 split by two seasons at the New Zealand Warriors (2002-03).
- AAP
