Shaun Fensom says he'd do anything to wear the Broncos jersey this year.
It sounds like a throw-away line, but those aware of his track record of toughness on a football field would know it's anything but.
The former North Queensland and Canberra warhorse, now 30, has enjoyed linking up with the club that first showed interest in him as a junior.
Fensom was overlooked on that occasion but, now with 174 NRL games under his belt, has been recruited by new coach Anthony Seibold to fill an experience void in the forwards highlighted by Sam Thaiday's retirement.
"l love helping out the young fellas and where I can I will; I'm a bit humbled to think that's why I'm here," he said.
While impressed with the skill set of Brisbane's fresh-faced pack, Fensom hasn't turned up to cheerlead.
"If I wasn't serious I woudn't be here - I will be doing everything I can to get that jersey," he said.
Fensom means it too - he has tried to play through a lacerated kidney and dislocated elbow as an NRL player and apologised to teammates after being taken from the field in the 2017 grand final with a broken leg.
But it is that attitude the Broncos have been searching for and one that was on show during a steamy Monday morning session at Red Hill.
Darius Boyd, Joe Ofahengaue, Andrew McCullough and rugby union recruit Izaia Perese all limped off with niggles during Monday morning's two-hour stint at Red Hill, while a head knock also forced rookie forward Tom Flegler to the sidelines.
Fensom remained standing in his salmon-coloured boots and approved of what he saw.
"It's a nice, high intensity, training above game level so when we come to round one we'll knock it out easier than we would otherwise," he said.
"It's pretty physical and brutal, but that's professional sport."
