Serbia target Brisbane Broncos youngster

Serbia are hoping to tempt Brisbane Broncos centre Tom Opacic to play for them in the 2017 World Cup campaign.

The White Eagles, as the Serbian team is known, hope that the 20-year-old can reinforce their squad for the tournament qualifiers.

The Serbs have contacted the Broncos by email, opening a discussion about the player’s international future.

Opacic qualifies for Serbia through his father, who has Serbian blood.

“Tom was a bit surprised (to be approached) but his father has ties to Yugoslavia so eligibility would not be an issue,” his manager Shaun Pyne said, according to the Courier-Mail.

“A few of his Broncos teammates like Josh McGuire and Daniel Vidot have played for second-tier nations like Samoa, so Tom’s feeling is, why not give it a go?

Opacic, who is from the town of Wamuran, has also recently been handed a one-year contract extension by the Brisbane outfit.

“Tom is rapt to have his future sorted, the Broncos say he could be a 10-year player at the club,” Pyne added.

“Last year, Tom had no guarantees but he asked the Broncos if he could train once a week.

“He has turned that into an NRL Auckland Nines trip, a World Club Series trip and now an upgrade for another year.

“He is not a guy who is flashy or oozes skill, but he is tough, defensively solid and a good clubman.’’