Broncos' star "can't wait" to go from footy to food

Broncos’ legend Alex Glenn will swap the maroon and gold for a black chef’s apron at the Moreton Bay Food + Wine Festival on August 19-21.

The former Brisbane captain will be showing his barbecue skills and having “fun” on the Kitchen Stage – presented by USC – at Apex Park, Woody Point.

Alongside him - on Saturday August 20 at 4.45pm - will be ‘The Car Man’ Luke Camilleri, Dealer Principal at Aspley Mazda, for which Glenn is an ambassador. Read more about Aspley Mazda's involvement here

'I can't wait'

Together they plan to help spread the message of good nutrition, healthy lifestyle and support for our region’s primary producers.

Glenn retired last year after 282 NRL games, making him the club's fourth most capped player of all time, a club record five Most Consistent Player of the Year awards and 14 international caps.

“I can’t wait for the festival,” the 33-year-old said, “it’s my first time there and the first time I have done something like this.

Help and inspire

“It’s a different way of expressing myself to people. People may have seen me on the football field or know my athlete journey, but this is a different dynamic.

“I’m not being judged on how I cook. I’m there for the vibes, to share the fun and what I fill my body with.

“If I can help someone and inspire them in terms of nutrition, lifestyle in general … that’s what it’s all about.”

Tasty start

The event kicks off the Tastes of Moreton Bay Festival, a six-week celebration of the region’s producers and foodie culture with more than 40 events from August 19 to September 25.

Alastair McLeod, the Tastes of Moreton Bay Festival ambassador, had no doubt Glenn would cook up a storm on the Kitchen Stage.

“You’re comfortable in front of 50/60/70,000 people!” the celebrity chef and TV personality said when alongside Glenn this week.

“It will be unscripted and that means it will be sincere. Alex will do his own thing. He’s confident in the kitchen and will blow them away.

'It makes sense'

“The message of the festival is not driven by chefs, or ex-captains, it’s them using their positions to tell the story of the primary producers.

“If I can find all the fresh plants I need and all the fresh proteins I need in this region, it makes sense ethically, morally and financially for that money to be cycling round in my own community.

“I know from doing cooking demos, people say where did you get the ingredients … rather than can I get the recipe.

Book now

“There’s a desire there and this event (Moreton Bay Food + Wine Festival), apart from the Great Wall of China, will be one of the few things you can see from space!”

To find out more about Moreton Bay Food + Wine Festival and to buy tickets, head to the website

Tastes of Moreton Bay Feastival is delivered by Moreton Bay Region Industry and Tourism (MBRIT), with the support of key strategic partner, Moreton Bay Regional Council.