James Gavet is the enforcer Wayne Bennett hopes will bring some mongrel to the Bronco
HE has won a battle with booze and now reformed alcoholic James Gavet is the enforcer master coach Wayne Bennett hopes will bring some mongrel to the Broncos pack.
The Courier-Mail can reveal Bennett has poached Gavet from the Wests Tigers after the veteran mentor failed a fortnight ago in his bid to sign jailed prop Russell Packer.
Gavet, who turns 25 this Sunday, has inked a two-year with the Broncos. He was contracted to the Tigers for another season, but the joint-venture club signed off on a release on Monday after Bennett phoned Gavet’s management.
Bennett is eager to add aggression to his Brisbane forward unit and former Warriors bookend Packer was his primary target. But after missing out on Packer, Bennett moved for Gavet, who is regarded as one of the NRL’s most aggressive forwards.
Standing 186cm and weighing 108kg, Gavet faces a daunting task firing at the Broncos, but he is steeled by the lessons of navigating a five-year battle with alcoholism.
On Monday, his manager Tyran Smith confirmed Bennett had bolstered his front-row stocks by securing Gavet until the end of 2016.
“We’ve got a release from the Tigers so James will be at the Broncos next year,” said Smith of Sportsplayer Management.
“It’s a great opportunity for James. He’s gone through some tough times but when Wayne Bennett expressed interest, I thought he could be great for him on and off the field.
“James has a long future in the game. He’s one of the toughest up-and-coming forwards coming through and he’ll learn a lot at a professional club like the Broncos.”
Born in New Zealand, Gavet made his NRL debut with the Bulldogs in 2012, only to have his contract torn-up after one game due to issues with the demon drink.
He was thrown a lifeline by the Tigers, playing 24 top-grade games in the past two seasons and impressing with his rampaging charges and intimidating style.
Gavet’s signing will offset the loss of Ben Hannant, who last week agreed to a one-year deal with the Cowboys. He will push strongly for a starting front-row berth next season, with the likes of Martin Kennedy and Mitch Garbutt also in the frame to partner Josh McGuire.
Earlier this season, Gavet opened up about his problems with drinking. He admitted alcoholism was endemic in his family and sought professional help.
“The thing with being an alcoholic is that you’re always in denial,” he told the NRL’s official website. “I was living in denial. Then you want to keep it under wraps, because it’s embarrassing.”
“(Mum) once said to me, ‘Your father’s father was a bad drunk, and your father was an alcoholic too.’
“I was in a really low place ... I already had a bit of an angry streak. Alcohol just multiplied it tenfold.
“Going into pre-season this year, I really made it a personal goal just to stay away from the drink.
“You can make millions of memories without it ... and actually remember them.”
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