NRL rubber stamp De Vere's comeback - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

NRL rubber stamp De Vere's comeback

23/01/2009 02:40:02 PM Comments (0)

The NRL have officially rubber stamped Mick De Vere's comeback for the Brisbane Broncos.

More than two years after retiring, former Test centre De Vere, 32, has been given the green light to run out for the Broncos for one more year - his 10th overall at the club.

After the Broncos submitted a detailed case to NRL salary cap auditor Ian Schubert, De Vere was allowed to come back for Brisbane and keep working as a coaching and development officer with Easts Carina rugby league club.

De Vere made his debut at the Broncos in 1996 and is a veteran of 170 first-grade games.

But he has not played in the NRL for four years - and last tasted the elite level in 2006.

De Vere left the Broncos in 2004 as the club's leading all-time leading scorer with 1,082 points from 64 tries and 413 goals, a mark since overtaken by Darren Lockyer who recently celebrated 300 games.

A member of three premiership-winning sides - 1997 (Super League), 1998 and 2000 - he was widely regarded as one of the best defensive centres in the world.

He played five State of Origins for NSW and four Tests for Australia.

Injury forced him back home from the English Super League after Huddersfield lost the Challenge Cup Final 42-12 to St Helens in 2006 and in early 2008 he took up an offer to join new Broncos coach Ivan Henjak's support staff.

De Vere said coaching at Easts Carina had stoked his passion for playing again.

Broncos CEO Bruno Cullen said De Vere provided timely depth with a question mark over centre Justin Hodges' rehabilitation from major shoulder surgery.

After taking personal leave, Hodges returns to the Broncos on Monday.

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