‘I've got a long time here': Dolphins star shuts down future code jump
The 25-year-old was floated as a potential sensation of the 15-man game last year by former England and Great Britain international Martin Offiah – whose career included stints in union with the Bedford Blues and London Wasps.
Farnworth is signed with the Dolphins until the end of 2026, the year before the Rugby World Cup takes place in Australia. A defection from the Englishman would set up an enthralling battle with NRL wunderkind-turned-Wallabies phenom Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
But ahead of Thursday night's clash with the Cowboys, before the Lions face the Wallabies on Saturday at Suncorp Stadium, Farnworth denied there had ever been any interest, nor approach, to make the change, as he pledged his allegiance to his current outfit.
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'Nothing really, like I've said before I'm still very happy at the Dolphins. I've still got this year and next year left, so I've got a long, long time here,' Farnworth said.
'I think we're going in a really positive way. We've got some great young players, so nothing has changed in that aspect.
'I try and keep in touch with them [the Lions] via socials, and obviously, I wish them the best of luck. I might even go to the game this weekend.
'But any Pommies in Brissie come down to the Dolphins game and see a fellow Pommy like myself, and hopefully help us get the two points.'
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- AU Financial Review
Inside the British and Irish Lions' million-dollar money machine
Over the past few weeks, a 92-person team and 11,000 kilograms of equipment have travelled on an almost daily basis around Australia. It's an expensive and physically demanding task for the British and Irish Lions, a once-in-four-year rugby union team comprising players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'Toe to toe with a giant movie star': Damson Idris on battling Brad Pitt in F1
Damson Idris was trying to tune out the noise, but that's a little difficult at a Formula One race. The British-Nigerian actor was in the zone, in character, filming the high-octane movie F1 with Brad Pitt at some of the world's most famous racetracks. While Idris' profile has been rising in recent years, after six seasons starring in the FX series Snowfall, there's nothing like being next to globally famous Formula One drivers and a Hollywood megastar to put things into perspective. He was pretty sure he was going to coast under the radar. Then he started hearing not just his own name from fans in the crowd but "Franklin Saint," too, the name of his drug kingpin character on Snowfall. "It's funny, because I see myself as a young actor who nobody knows," Idris, 33, said in a recent interview. Anonymity may already be a thing of the past for Idris, though. In May, he made a splash at the Met Gala, arriving in a full racing suit (branded with F1's fictional team name APXGP) and a Swarovski crystal-studded helmet that he and two ushers removed to reveal a second look underneath. The boldness and theatricality of the stunt made it one of the most talked about moments at an event where everyone is trying to stand out. And things have revved up even more since F1 opened in cinemas globally. With a wave of great reviews for the Top Gun: Maverick-style spectacle, filmmaker Joseph Kosinski is pretty sure Idris is going to start hearing people shout "Joshua Pearce" at him too. That's the name of Idris' character, the hotshot rookie driver of the worst team on the circuit who's desperate to prove himself and hang on to one of the coveted seats. "I'm very excited for people to see him own this character and go toe to toe with a giant movie star," Kosinski said. "I think he can do anything. He's just super talented, and I feel like I'm lucky to see him at the beginning of what's going to be a pretty stratospheric launch." Idris tries to seek out projects that challenge him and characters who are as different as possible - from each other and, especially, from him. Joshua Pearce fit the bill in a moment when he was preparing to say goodbye to Franklin Saint. After he read the F1 script, the character even infiltrated his dreams. "I said to myself, 'Man, no one's going to be able to play this part like I will.' I remember writing Joe (Kosinski) a letter and telling him that," Idris said. "When we finally jumped in the cars for the first time, I was hooked. I was like, 'Yep this movie's mine. It's no one else's and I can't wait to give my all to it.' And that's exactly what I did." F1 wouldn't just require playing a part. Both he and Pitt had to learn how to drive the cars at speeds of up to 300 kmh. It took months of training behind the wheel the supervision of stunt drivers Luciano Bacheta and Craig Dolby, as well as physical training to adapt to the G-forces they'd feel in the car. When it came time to film, which they did with special cameras attached to the cars, sometimes they were driving during breaks at real races with hundreds of thousands of spectators around. Every time you see Idris' or Pitt's face in the car, Kosinski said, they're really driving that car. "It's so insane. It's actually quicker in real life and it looks really fast on the screen," Idris said. "In a split second, a decision could be really detrimental. But I couldn't imagine doing this movie any other way. If it was on green screen, you'd be able to tell." There's a bit of art-meets-life symmetry wrapped up in F1, in which an up-and-comer teams up with a veteran. In the film, it's a reluctant pairing of two alphas. The mentorship is fraught, the lessons are hard-earned and the competition is not exactly friendly. Unlike Joshua, Idris is more than willing to get advice from those around him, whether it's producers like Jerry Bruckheimer and Jeremy Kleiner, his director Kosinski, or his co-stars, from Pitt to Javier Bardem. "I speak to them every day and I ask for advice," he said. "The main focus is on stories, playing characters that I can be proud of and range. That's everything I'm setting out to do in this career." Acting was not always the goal for Idris. Like many kids in South London, he once dreamed of being a soccer player. Sure, the idea of being a renowned athlete held some appeal, but he also loved the sheer discipline it required. Then, at age 18, he realised he'd never be as great as Lionel Messi. "When I see him one day, hopefully I'm blessed to meet him, I'm going to tell him that he's the reason why I quit football, because he was so good," he said. "Wonderfully, acting is a subjective industry, so I can at least cheat my way into working with Brad Pitt." Cheating is, of course, a bit of cheeky hyperbole for an actor who studied drama at university and continued training at London's Identity School of Acting afterward. Since he made his stage debut in Ade Solanke's Pandora's Box more than 10 years ago, Idris has been hitting the pavement like the rest of his peers. And he's just getting started. Idris recently wrapped filming the Tomi Adeyemi adaptation Children of Bone and Blood in Cape Town, South Africa. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, Idris plays Prince Inan in the African fantasy that co-stars Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Idris' idol and real-life mentor Idris Elba. "It's not just a namesake," Idris said. "I feel so blessed to be able to say that I'm like his little brother and I can call him and get advice." Next up, Idris will prepare to portray Miles Davis in Bill Pohlad's Miles & Juliette, about the jazz legend's romance with French singer Juliette Gréco. He's also founded a fine jewelry line, named Didris, inspired by his mother, and is getting into producing as well - his production company has a deal with FX Networks and wants to make opportunities for emerging talents. And like his character in F1, Idris is learning to block out the noise. He knows that a film career is a long journey and there will be ups and downs. "It's a huge moment, but I'm fortunate to have so many people in my life that keep me grounded," Idris said. "I've soaked in information from people I admire who say the same thing during these higher moments: Pinch yourself, stay grounded, remember where you came from. "That's exactly how I'm walking through this portal and into these next couple of years. I'm excited, I'm humbled, I am blessed and I can't wait to see what the future brings." AP/AAP Damson Idris was trying to tune out the noise, but that's a little difficult at a Formula One race. The British-Nigerian actor was in the zone, in character, filming the high-octane movie F1 with Brad Pitt at some of the world's most famous racetracks. While Idris' profile has been rising in recent years, after six seasons starring in the FX series Snowfall, there's nothing like being next to globally famous Formula One drivers and a Hollywood megastar to put things into perspective. He was pretty sure he was going to coast under the radar. Then he started hearing not just his own name from fans in the crowd but "Franklin Saint," too, the name of his drug kingpin character on Snowfall. "It's funny, because I see myself as a young actor who nobody knows," Idris, 33, said in a recent interview. Anonymity may already be a thing of the past for Idris, though. In May, he made a splash at the Met Gala, arriving in a full racing suit (branded with F1's fictional team name APXGP) and a Swarovski crystal-studded helmet that he and two ushers removed to reveal a second look underneath. The boldness and theatricality of the stunt made it one of the most talked about moments at an event where everyone is trying to stand out. And things have revved up even more since F1 opened in cinemas globally. With a wave of great reviews for the Top Gun: Maverick-style spectacle, filmmaker Joseph Kosinski is pretty sure Idris is going to start hearing people shout "Joshua Pearce" at him too. That's the name of Idris' character, the hotshot rookie driver of the worst team on the circuit who's desperate to prove himself and hang on to one of the coveted seats. "I'm very excited for people to see him own this character and go toe to toe with a giant movie star," Kosinski said. "I think he can do anything. He's just super talented, and I feel like I'm lucky to see him at the beginning of what's going to be a pretty stratospheric launch." Idris tries to seek out projects that challenge him and characters who are as different as possible - from each other and, especially, from him. Joshua Pearce fit the bill in a moment when he was preparing to say goodbye to Franklin Saint. After he read the F1 script, the character even infiltrated his dreams. "I said to myself, 'Man, no one's going to be able to play this part like I will.' I remember writing Joe (Kosinski) a letter and telling him that," Idris said. "When we finally jumped in the cars for the first time, I was hooked. I was like, 'Yep this movie's mine. It's no one else's and I can't wait to give my all to it.' And that's exactly what I did." F1 wouldn't just require playing a part. Both he and Pitt had to learn how to drive the cars at speeds of up to 300 kmh. It took months of training behind the wheel the supervision of stunt drivers Luciano Bacheta and Craig Dolby, as well as physical training to adapt to the G-forces they'd feel in the car. When it came time to film, which they did with special cameras attached to the cars, sometimes they were driving during breaks at real races with hundreds of thousands of spectators around. Every time you see Idris' or Pitt's face in the car, Kosinski said, they're really driving that car. "It's so insane. It's actually quicker in real life and it looks really fast on the screen," Idris said. "In a split second, a decision could be really detrimental. But I couldn't imagine doing this movie any other way. If it was on green screen, you'd be able to tell." There's a bit of art-meets-life symmetry wrapped up in F1, in which an up-and-comer teams up with a veteran. In the film, it's a reluctant pairing of two alphas. The mentorship is fraught, the lessons are hard-earned and the competition is not exactly friendly. Unlike Joshua, Idris is more than willing to get advice from those around him, whether it's producers like Jerry Bruckheimer and Jeremy Kleiner, his director Kosinski, or his co-stars, from Pitt to Javier Bardem. "I speak to them every day and I ask for advice," he said. "The main focus is on stories, playing characters that I can be proud of and range. That's everything I'm setting out to do in this career." Acting was not always the goal for Idris. Like many kids in South London, he once dreamed of being a soccer player. Sure, the idea of being a renowned athlete held some appeal, but he also loved the sheer discipline it required. Then, at age 18, he realised he'd never be as great as Lionel Messi. "When I see him one day, hopefully I'm blessed to meet him, I'm going to tell him that he's the reason why I quit football, because he was so good," he said. "Wonderfully, acting is a subjective industry, so I can at least cheat my way into working with Brad Pitt." Cheating is, of course, a bit of cheeky hyperbole for an actor who studied drama at university and continued training at London's Identity School of Acting afterward. Since he made his stage debut in Ade Solanke's Pandora's Box more than 10 years ago, Idris has been hitting the pavement like the rest of his peers. And he's just getting started. Idris recently wrapped filming the Tomi Adeyemi adaptation Children of Bone and Blood in Cape Town, South Africa. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, Idris plays Prince Inan in the African fantasy that co-stars Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Idris' idol and real-life mentor Idris Elba. "It's not just a namesake," Idris said. "I feel so blessed to be able to say that I'm like his little brother and I can call him and get advice." Next up, Idris will prepare to portray Miles Davis in Bill Pohlad's Miles & Juliette, about the jazz legend's romance with French singer Juliette Gréco. He's also founded a fine jewelry line, named Didris, inspired by his mother, and is getting into producing as well - his production company has a deal with FX Networks and wants to make opportunities for emerging talents. And like his character in F1, Idris is learning to block out the noise. He knows that a film career is a long journey and there will be ups and downs. "It's a huge moment, but I'm fortunate to have so many people in my life that keep me grounded," Idris said. "I've soaked in information from people I admire who say the same thing during these higher moments: Pinch yourself, stay grounded, remember where you came from. "That's exactly how I'm walking through this portal and into these next couple of years. I'm excited, I'm humbled, I am blessed and I can't wait to see what the future brings." AP/AAP Damson Idris was trying to tune out the noise, but that's a little difficult at a Formula One race. The British-Nigerian actor was in the zone, in character, filming the high-octane movie F1 with Brad Pitt at some of the world's most famous racetracks. While Idris' profile has been rising in recent years, after six seasons starring in the FX series Snowfall, there's nothing like being next to globally famous Formula One drivers and a Hollywood megastar to put things into perspective. He was pretty sure he was going to coast under the radar. Then he started hearing not just his own name from fans in the crowd but "Franklin Saint," too, the name of his drug kingpin character on Snowfall. "It's funny, because I see myself as a young actor who nobody knows," Idris, 33, said in a recent interview. Anonymity may already be a thing of the past for Idris, though. In May, he made a splash at the Met Gala, arriving in a full racing suit (branded with F1's fictional team name APXGP) and a Swarovski crystal-studded helmet that he and two ushers removed to reveal a second look underneath. The boldness and theatricality of the stunt made it one of the most talked about moments at an event where everyone is trying to stand out. And things have revved up even more since F1 opened in cinemas globally. With a wave of great reviews for the Top Gun: Maverick-style spectacle, filmmaker Joseph Kosinski is pretty sure Idris is going to start hearing people shout "Joshua Pearce" at him too. That's the name of Idris' character, the hotshot rookie driver of the worst team on the circuit who's desperate to prove himself and hang on to one of the coveted seats. "I'm very excited for people to see him own this character and go toe to toe with a giant movie star," Kosinski said. "I think he can do anything. He's just super talented, and I feel like I'm lucky to see him at the beginning of what's going to be a pretty stratospheric launch." Idris tries to seek out projects that challenge him and characters who are as different as possible - from each other and, especially, from him. Joshua Pearce fit the bill in a moment when he was preparing to say goodbye to Franklin Saint. After he read the F1 script, the character even infiltrated his dreams. "I said to myself, 'Man, no one's going to be able to play this part like I will.' I remember writing Joe (Kosinski) a letter and telling him that," Idris said. "When we finally jumped in the cars for the first time, I was hooked. I was like, 'Yep this movie's mine. It's no one else's and I can't wait to give my all to it.' And that's exactly what I did." F1 wouldn't just require playing a part. Both he and Pitt had to learn how to drive the cars at speeds of up to 300 kmh. It took months of training behind the wheel the supervision of stunt drivers Luciano Bacheta and Craig Dolby, as well as physical training to adapt to the G-forces they'd feel in the car. When it came time to film, which they did with special cameras attached to the cars, sometimes they were driving during breaks at real races with hundreds of thousands of spectators around. Every time you see Idris' or Pitt's face in the car, Kosinski said, they're really driving that car. "It's so insane. It's actually quicker in real life and it looks really fast on the screen," Idris said. "In a split second, a decision could be really detrimental. But I couldn't imagine doing this movie any other way. If it was on green screen, you'd be able to tell." There's a bit of art-meets-life symmetry wrapped up in F1, in which an up-and-comer teams up with a veteran. In the film, it's a reluctant pairing of two alphas. The mentorship is fraught, the lessons are hard-earned and the competition is not exactly friendly. Unlike Joshua, Idris is more than willing to get advice from those around him, whether it's producers like Jerry Bruckheimer and Jeremy Kleiner, his director Kosinski, or his co-stars, from Pitt to Javier Bardem. "I speak to them every day and I ask for advice," he said. "The main focus is on stories, playing characters that I can be proud of and range. That's everything I'm setting out to do in this career." Acting was not always the goal for Idris. Like many kids in South London, he once dreamed of being a soccer player. Sure, the idea of being a renowned athlete held some appeal, but he also loved the sheer discipline it required. Then, at age 18, he realised he'd never be as great as Lionel Messi. "When I see him one day, hopefully I'm blessed to meet him, I'm going to tell him that he's the reason why I quit football, because he was so good," he said. "Wonderfully, acting is a subjective industry, so I can at least cheat my way into working with Brad Pitt." Cheating is, of course, a bit of cheeky hyperbole for an actor who studied drama at university and continued training at London's Identity School of Acting afterward. Since he made his stage debut in Ade Solanke's Pandora's Box more than 10 years ago, Idris has been hitting the pavement like the rest of his peers. And he's just getting started. Idris recently wrapped filming the Tomi Adeyemi adaptation Children of Bone and Blood in Cape Town, South Africa. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, Idris plays Prince Inan in the African fantasy that co-stars Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Idris' idol and real-life mentor Idris Elba. "It's not just a namesake," Idris said. "I feel so blessed to be able to say that I'm like his little brother and I can call him and get advice." Next up, Idris will prepare to portray Miles Davis in Bill Pohlad's Miles & Juliette, about the jazz legend's romance with French singer Juliette Gréco. He's also founded a fine jewelry line, named Didris, inspired by his mother, and is getting into producing as well - his production company has a deal with FX Networks and wants to make opportunities for emerging talents. And like his character in F1, Idris is learning to block out the noise. He knows that a film career is a long journey and there will be ups and downs. "It's a huge moment, but I'm fortunate to have so many people in my life that keep me grounded," Idris said. "I've soaked in information from people I admire who say the same thing during these higher moments: Pinch yourself, stay grounded, remember where you came from. "That's exactly how I'm walking through this portal and into these next couple of years. I'm excited, I'm humbled, I am blessed and I can't wait to see what the future brings." AP/AAP Damson Idris was trying to tune out the noise, but that's a little difficult at a Formula One race. The British-Nigerian actor was in the zone, in character, filming the high-octane movie F1 with Brad Pitt at some of the world's most famous racetracks. While Idris' profile has been rising in recent years, after six seasons starring in the FX series Snowfall, there's nothing like being next to globally famous Formula One drivers and a Hollywood megastar to put things into perspective. He was pretty sure he was going to coast under the radar. Then he started hearing not just his own name from fans in the crowd but "Franklin Saint," too, the name of his drug kingpin character on Snowfall. "It's funny, because I see myself as a young actor who nobody knows," Idris, 33, said in a recent interview. Anonymity may already be a thing of the past for Idris, though. In May, he made a splash at the Met Gala, arriving in a full racing suit (branded with F1's fictional team name APXGP) and a Swarovski crystal-studded helmet that he and two ushers removed to reveal a second look underneath. The boldness and theatricality of the stunt made it one of the most talked about moments at an event where everyone is trying to stand out. And things have revved up even more since F1 opened in cinemas globally. With a wave of great reviews for the Top Gun: Maverick-style spectacle, filmmaker Joseph Kosinski is pretty sure Idris is going to start hearing people shout "Joshua Pearce" at him too. That's the name of Idris' character, the hotshot rookie driver of the worst team on the circuit who's desperate to prove himself and hang on to one of the coveted seats. "I'm very excited for people to see him own this character and go toe to toe with a giant movie star," Kosinski said. "I think he can do anything. He's just super talented, and I feel like I'm lucky to see him at the beginning of what's going to be a pretty stratospheric launch." Idris tries to seek out projects that challenge him and characters who are as different as possible - from each other and, especially, from him. Joshua Pearce fit the bill in a moment when he was preparing to say goodbye to Franklin Saint. After he read the F1 script, the character even infiltrated his dreams. "I said to myself, 'Man, no one's going to be able to play this part like I will.' I remember writing Joe (Kosinski) a letter and telling him that," Idris said. "When we finally jumped in the cars for the first time, I was hooked. I was like, 'Yep this movie's mine. It's no one else's and I can't wait to give my all to it.' And that's exactly what I did." F1 wouldn't just require playing a part. Both he and Pitt had to learn how to drive the cars at speeds of up to 300 kmh. It took months of training behind the wheel the supervision of stunt drivers Luciano Bacheta and Craig Dolby, as well as physical training to adapt to the G-forces they'd feel in the car. When it came time to film, which they did with special cameras attached to the cars, sometimes they were driving during breaks at real races with hundreds of thousands of spectators around. Every time you see Idris' or Pitt's face in the car, Kosinski said, they're really driving that car. "It's so insane. It's actually quicker in real life and it looks really fast on the screen," Idris said. "In a split second, a decision could be really detrimental. But I couldn't imagine doing this movie any other way. If it was on green screen, you'd be able to tell." There's a bit of art-meets-life symmetry wrapped up in F1, in which an up-and-comer teams up with a veteran. In the film, it's a reluctant pairing of two alphas. The mentorship is fraught, the lessons are hard-earned and the competition is not exactly friendly. Unlike Joshua, Idris is more than willing to get advice from those around him, whether it's producers like Jerry Bruckheimer and Jeremy Kleiner, his director Kosinski, or his co-stars, from Pitt to Javier Bardem. "I speak to them every day and I ask for advice," he said. "The main focus is on stories, playing characters that I can be proud of and range. That's everything I'm setting out to do in this career." Acting was not always the goal for Idris. Like many kids in South London, he once dreamed of being a soccer player. Sure, the idea of being a renowned athlete held some appeal, but he also loved the sheer discipline it required. Then, at age 18, he realised he'd never be as great as Lionel Messi. "When I see him one day, hopefully I'm blessed to meet him, I'm going to tell him that he's the reason why I quit football, because he was so good," he said. "Wonderfully, acting is a subjective industry, so I can at least cheat my way into working with Brad Pitt." Cheating is, of course, a bit of cheeky hyperbole for an actor who studied drama at university and continued training at London's Identity School of Acting afterward. Since he made his stage debut in Ade Solanke's Pandora's Box more than 10 years ago, Idris has been hitting the pavement like the rest of his peers. And he's just getting started. Idris recently wrapped filming the Tomi Adeyemi adaptation Children of Bone and Blood in Cape Town, South Africa. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, Idris plays Prince Inan in the African fantasy that co-stars Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Idris' idol and real-life mentor Idris Elba. "It's not just a namesake," Idris said. "I feel so blessed to be able to say that I'm like his little brother and I can call him and get advice." Next up, Idris will prepare to portray Miles Davis in Bill Pohlad's Miles & Juliette, about the jazz legend's romance with French singer Juliette Gréco. He's also founded a fine jewelry line, named Didris, inspired by his mother, and is getting into producing as well - his production company has a deal with FX Networks and wants to make opportunities for emerging talents. And like his character in F1, Idris is learning to block out the noise. He knows that a film career is a long journey and there will be ups and downs. "It's a huge moment, but I'm fortunate to have so many people in my life that keep me grounded," Idris said. "I've soaked in information from people I admire who say the same thing during these higher moments: Pinch yourself, stay grounded, remember where you came from. "That's exactly how I'm walking through this portal and into these next couple of years. I'm excited, I'm humbled, I am blessed and I can't wait to see what the future brings." AP/AAP
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Unspoken rule behind Brisbane Lions' AFL revival
Hugh McCluggage can only imagine how hard it would have been to tell his Brisbane Lions teammates he was leaving. The 27-year-old is in arguably career-best form ahead of his 200th AFL game, against Western Bulldogs on Friday. The first player drafted, at pick No.3 in 2016, by new coach Chris Fagan, McCluggage and the Lions finished last in 2017 and 15th in 2018. What's happened since has exceeded even McCluggage's "wildest dreams", the Lions finishing second in 2019 and, after years of going close, winning a flag last year. McCluggage extended his initial deal until 2024 and then defied keen interest elsewhere to sign a seven-year deal tying him to the Lions until 2031. "I could see it was a tight group, and I was keen to help Zorks and Frog and those guys play in some finals, that was probably the aim at the start when sitting on the bottom," McCluggage said of his bond with veterans Dayne Zorko and Ryan Lester that first motivated the Victorian to remain in Brisbane. "In our wildest dreams we couldn't imagine what we've done." McCluggage, childhood mate Jarrod Berry, Zac Bailey and Cameron Rayner head a list of loyal Lions that have resisted the pull to return home. As the Lions (second, 12-4-1) craft their push for back-to-back flags, McCluggage said Fagan and his staff had fostered an environment that was hard to leave. "We never spoke about it (directly once, but it was one of those things you knew if you were to leave it'd be pretty hard to look them in the eyes and say, 'I'm going to go home'," McCluggage said. "We're extremely close, Bez (Berry) is in the same camp as that and also Big O (Oscar McInerney); we've been here the whole time he (Fagan) has. "A bit of a father figure to us … wraps an arm around you when he realises you need it but he is someone who can challenge you, and he's always wanted to help me grow in that way." Always a potent distributor, McCluggage has worked on his defence and become a menacing goal-kicking threat at stoppages to present a lively case for maiden All Australian honours this season. So impactful has McCluggage been that he's even attracted tags ahead of two-time Brownlow Medallist teammate Lachie Neale. "It's been a different challenge for me," he said of that attention. "Lucky I have Lachie to lean on … it's (being tagged) something that's a badge of honour. "I can trust that if I'm getting tagged out of the game then someone ... will go into the midfield and do what needs to be done." That battle will be key at the Gabba on Friday against a Bulldogs side one win outside the top eight. Hugh McCluggage can only imagine how hard it would have been to tell his Brisbane Lions teammates he was leaving. The 27-year-old is in arguably career-best form ahead of his 200th AFL game, against Western Bulldogs on Friday. The first player drafted, at pick No.3 in 2016, by new coach Chris Fagan, McCluggage and the Lions finished last in 2017 and 15th in 2018. What's happened since has exceeded even McCluggage's "wildest dreams", the Lions finishing second in 2019 and, after years of going close, winning a flag last year. McCluggage extended his initial deal until 2024 and then defied keen interest elsewhere to sign a seven-year deal tying him to the Lions until 2031. "I could see it was a tight group, and I was keen to help Zorks and Frog and those guys play in some finals, that was probably the aim at the start when sitting on the bottom," McCluggage said of his bond with veterans Dayne Zorko and Ryan Lester that first motivated the Victorian to remain in Brisbane. "In our wildest dreams we couldn't imagine what we've done." McCluggage, childhood mate Jarrod Berry, Zac Bailey and Cameron Rayner head a list of loyal Lions that have resisted the pull to return home. As the Lions (second, 12-4-1) craft their push for back-to-back flags, McCluggage said Fagan and his staff had fostered an environment that was hard to leave. "We never spoke about it (directly once, but it was one of those things you knew if you were to leave it'd be pretty hard to look them in the eyes and say, 'I'm going to go home'," McCluggage said. "We're extremely close, Bez (Berry) is in the same camp as that and also Big O (Oscar McInerney); we've been here the whole time he (Fagan) has. "A bit of a father figure to us … wraps an arm around you when he realises you need it but he is someone who can challenge you, and he's always wanted to help me grow in that way." Always a potent distributor, McCluggage has worked on his defence and become a menacing goal-kicking threat at stoppages to present a lively case for maiden All Australian honours this season. So impactful has McCluggage been that he's even attracted tags ahead of two-time Brownlow Medallist teammate Lachie Neale. "It's been a different challenge for me," he said of that attention. "Lucky I have Lachie to lean on … it's (being tagged) something that's a badge of honour. "I can trust that if I'm getting tagged out of the game then someone ... will go into the midfield and do what needs to be done." That battle will be key at the Gabba on Friday against a Bulldogs side one win outside the top eight. Hugh McCluggage can only imagine how hard it would have been to tell his Brisbane Lions teammates he was leaving. The 27-year-old is in arguably career-best form ahead of his 200th AFL game, against Western Bulldogs on Friday. The first player drafted, at pick No.3 in 2016, by new coach Chris Fagan, McCluggage and the Lions finished last in 2017 and 15th in 2018. What's happened since has exceeded even McCluggage's "wildest dreams", the Lions finishing second in 2019 and, after years of going close, winning a flag last year. McCluggage extended his initial deal until 2024 and then defied keen interest elsewhere to sign a seven-year deal tying him to the Lions until 2031. "I could see it was a tight group, and I was keen to help Zorks and Frog and those guys play in some finals, that was probably the aim at the start when sitting on the bottom," McCluggage said of his bond with veterans Dayne Zorko and Ryan Lester that first motivated the Victorian to remain in Brisbane. "In our wildest dreams we couldn't imagine what we've done." McCluggage, childhood mate Jarrod Berry, Zac Bailey and Cameron Rayner head a list of loyal Lions that have resisted the pull to return home. As the Lions (second, 12-4-1) craft their push for back-to-back flags, McCluggage said Fagan and his staff had fostered an environment that was hard to leave. "We never spoke about it (directly once, but it was one of those things you knew if you were to leave it'd be pretty hard to look them in the eyes and say, 'I'm going to go home'," McCluggage said. "We're extremely close, Bez (Berry) is in the same camp as that and also Big O (Oscar McInerney); we've been here the whole time he (Fagan) has. "A bit of a father figure to us … wraps an arm around you when he realises you need it but he is someone who can challenge you, and he's always wanted to help me grow in that way." Always a potent distributor, McCluggage has worked on his defence and become a menacing goal-kicking threat at stoppages to present a lively case for maiden All Australian honours this season. So impactful has McCluggage been that he's even attracted tags ahead of two-time Brownlow Medallist teammate Lachie Neale. "It's been a different challenge for me," he said of that attention. "Lucky I have Lachie to lean on … it's (being tagged) something that's a badge of honour. "I can trust that if I'm getting tagged out of the game then someone ... will go into the midfield and do what needs to be done." That battle will be key at the Gabba on Friday against a Bulldogs side one win outside the top eight.
