Rookie Update: Leon Bott
by Mike Aitken by
Friday March 11, 2005

For my first rookie update this year I have decided to write about the person who’s on everybody’s lips this season; Leon Bott. Bott has been named on the wing for the Broncos round one clash against the Cowboys on Sunday, with many fans starting to wonder who this Leon Bott really is. Leon comes to the Broncos from a Rugby Union and athletics background, where he toured with the Australian Schoolboys Rugby Union team in 2003 and 2004 as a winger. Bott is also a gifted track athlete recording 10.80 seconds over 100 meters and breaking the Broncos 40 meter sprint record becoming the fastest ever Bronco player.

 

But that isn’t the only record that Leon is breaking at the Broncos: when he runs out onto Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, Leon will be the first schoolboy picked to play for the Broncos in the clubs 18 year history.  Leon is currently completing his final year at The Gap High School, taking four subjects allowing him time to attend trainings.

 

Bott has knocked back lucrative contracts with the Sydney Roosters and rival Super 12 clubs to play with his favourite team since he was a child. Bott followed the Broncos because of his childhood hero; Lote Tuqiri, and apparently still sleeps under a Broncos doona. Wayne Bennett was forced to pick the youngster after he scored five trys in three trial matches, and impressive training performances.

 

After watching him play in the Broncos trial match against the Storm at Carrara last month - where he scored a length of the field try, out-pacing Billy Slater to score in the corner - it’s safe to say the kid can find the line. Bott latched onto a pass from Brent Tate - Tate was taking a ruck ten meters off his line, angled away from the defence out towards the wing, where he drew in Leon’s opposite winger, and Tate threw an around the corner pass to Bott who ran the length of the field - and beat two cover defenders and Slater to the try line.

 

It is this ability that Bennett has recognised as crucial to our chances this season, a player who can score from any position on the field. We’ve had these players in the past: Chris Walker, Lote Tuqiri, Wendell Sailor and Steve Renouf. If Bott can stay fit for the entire season, and the Broncos can get the ball to him when he’s in some space, the Broncos will be a potent attacking force once again.

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