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http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/br...l-on-the-broncos/story-fndv2w3r-1226746262137
JOSH Hoffman has dropped a bombshell on the Broncos, telling coach Anthony Griffin he is disillusioned and weighing up his future at the club.
Hoffman wants out of Brisbane, with the Kiwi Test star's management holding crisis talks with Broncos operations chief Andrew Gee on Monday.
Gee scuppered any prospect of an immediate release, pointing out Hoffman is contracted to the Broncos until the end of 2015.
But the stance is only likely to ignite tensions with Hoffman, who ironically was named Brisbane's best back at their awards night just a fortnight ago.
The meeting came three days after veteran Broncos centre Justin Hodges made a surprise public critique of Hoffman, saying he should not be Brisbane's fullback next season.
Hoffman is currently in England with New Zealand's World Cup squad and was ropeable at comments which threaten to erode his relationship with Hodges.
The 25-year-old has found himself on uneasy terrain at Red Hill since August, when the club signed Ben Barba, who is set to be Brisbane's first-choice fullback in 2014.
Despite being the Kiwis' chief custodian, Hoffman was shunted to the Broncos wing last season to accommodate Corey Norman and only returned to fullback when Norman was dropped late in the year.
Hoffman ideally wants to be Brisbane's long-term fullback but with Barba on deck from next season, he is reluctant to spend the rest of his Broncos career on the wing.
Gee last night made it clear the Broncos would not be granting a release. "Over the last 12 months there has been a lot of innuendo about Josh Hoffman for a number of reasons," he said.
"The fact is Josh is signed to the club until the end of 2015.
"Josh has never indicated to us personally that he wants to leave. Everytime we have talked to him, he says he wants to stay here.
"Josh will be at this club until his contract runs out in 2015."
Hoffman is one of the club's most popular servants, winning the supporters' player-of-the-year gong at the Broncos' recent awards night.
But there has been growing tension. Last year, Hoffman was dropped by Griffin for being late to a weigh-in session.
The Mackay product was happy to accept the decision, but later felt aggrieved when a Broncos colleague escaped punishment for arriving late to a video session.
Hoffman's manager Paul Hogan has fielded inquiries from two NRL rivals but hopes his client can find a resolution with the Broncos.
"Josh feels he is one of the top fullbacks and he loves playing there," he said.
"In 2010, he won the Broncos' player of the year as a fullback.
"I've had some conversations with Andrew Gee and the fact is Josh is the New Zealand fullback, but where the Broncos choose to play him is their decision."
Last Friday, Hodges said Hoffman needed to work on his passing game to flourish at the back.
"Hoffy is a great player, but at the moment I don't think he is the right guy for fullback," he said.
"He's one of the best runners I have seen with the football, but he just has to work on his passing game. That's where I think he falls down.
"You look at guys like Greggy (Inglis) and Billy (Slater), all the great fullbacks we have in our game, they have those real fast hands.
"And Hoffy just hasn't learned that yet."
JOSH Hoffman has dropped a bombshell on the Broncos, telling coach Anthony Griffin he is disillusioned and weighing up his future at the club.
Hoffman wants out of Brisbane, with the Kiwi Test star's management holding crisis talks with Broncos operations chief Andrew Gee on Monday.
Gee scuppered any prospect of an immediate release, pointing out Hoffman is contracted to the Broncos until the end of 2015.
But the stance is only likely to ignite tensions with Hoffman, who ironically was named Brisbane's best back at their awards night just a fortnight ago.
The meeting came three days after veteran Broncos centre Justin Hodges made a surprise public critique of Hoffman, saying he should not be Brisbane's fullback next season.
Hoffman is currently in England with New Zealand's World Cup squad and was ropeable at comments which threaten to erode his relationship with Hodges.
The 25-year-old has found himself on uneasy terrain at Red Hill since August, when the club signed Ben Barba, who is set to be Brisbane's first-choice fullback in 2014.
Despite being the Kiwis' chief custodian, Hoffman was shunted to the Broncos wing last season to accommodate Corey Norman and only returned to fullback when Norman was dropped late in the year.
Hoffman ideally wants to be Brisbane's long-term fullback but with Barba on deck from next season, he is reluctant to spend the rest of his Broncos career on the wing.
Gee last night made it clear the Broncos would not be granting a release. "Over the last 12 months there has been a lot of innuendo about Josh Hoffman for a number of reasons," he said.
"The fact is Josh is signed to the club until the end of 2015.
"Josh has never indicated to us personally that he wants to leave. Everytime we have talked to him, he says he wants to stay here.
"Josh will be at this club until his contract runs out in 2015."
Hoffman is one of the club's most popular servants, winning the supporters' player-of-the-year gong at the Broncos' recent awards night.
But there has been growing tension. Last year, Hoffman was dropped by Griffin for being late to a weigh-in session.
The Mackay product was happy to accept the decision, but later felt aggrieved when a Broncos colleague escaped punishment for arriving late to a video session.
Hoffman's manager Paul Hogan has fielded inquiries from two NRL rivals but hopes his client can find a resolution with the Broncos.
"Josh feels he is one of the top fullbacks and he loves playing there," he said.
"In 2010, he won the Broncos' player of the year as a fullback.
"I've had some conversations with Andrew Gee and the fact is Josh is the New Zealand fullback, but where the Broncos choose to play him is their decision."
Last Friday, Hodges said Hoffman needed to work on his passing game to flourish at the back.
"Hoffy is a great player, but at the moment I don't think he is the right guy for fullback," he said.
"He's one of the best runners I have seen with the football, but he just has to work on his passing game. That's where I think he falls down.
"You look at guys like Greggy (Inglis) and Billy (Slater), all the great fullbacks we have in our game, they have those real fast hands.
"And Hoffy just hasn't learned that yet."
