12:00a.m. 4th November 2007

| By Peter Gardiner

The biggest “BMX bandit” you have ever seen in the hulking shape of Broncos battering ram Sam Thaiday failed to make inroads into the lead held by the crack AFL teams yesterday in the Footy Legends Tri.

But big slamming Sam may just have done some damage to the Noosa Parade road surface via his 108kg frame, as he tried to slipstream his way through the four laps of pain.

The hopes of the Broncos getting away to a flyer sank along with any thoughts that his team mate, big Dave Taylor, might be lighter than water.

Dave, who said the 200m swim seemed like 5km, was racing a Former Origin Greats ring-in (who replaced an injured Dale Shearer) for last.

Undeterred Sam took off while Dave was still jogging to the finish line.

“I call myself a BMX bandit mate,” said Sam after finally sending speedy back Darius Boyd into the run leg.

Still it was an impressive ride for a man who was quite pleased that he had only just failed his “beep test” and skin fold examination at the Broncos preseason muster.

For the FOGS, an impatient Willie Carne could not wait for Dan Stains to finish on the bike, and appeared to take off halfway through the bike leg.

That left the AFL Legends’ Steve Silvagni the last man standing about looking to do a runner.

His team-mate Richard Champion had powered through the swim to make them a competitive third-last going into the bike.

“I used every stroke there is and even invented a few of my own,” Champs said while Steve moaned something about 2km of torture as he jogged away.

For the sporting purists, Port Adelaide crossed first, but for the older guys like Champs and Willie, retirement was the winner.

Earlier in the day, almost 600 young flyers were more serious about the Superkidz Triathlon, while there was a lot to like about Australia’s only special triathlon straight afterwards.

Shane Hicks, of Tewantin, might not have the triathlon techniques of a Craig Walton, but for sheer competitiveness he is in a class of his own.

Shane, 24, who does not let something like down syndrome hold him back, has enough eye of the tiger to give Rocky Balboa cat phobia.

“Me? I am a racer – I’m a challenger,” Shane told the Sunshine Coast Daily after completing the triathlon at Noosaville yesterday.

Shane likes to pass other competitors and does not like anyone getting past him.

When he’s not rumbling out on the course, Shane said he’s a rock ‘n’roll kind of guy who likes DJ rapping.

This morning at 7.30, the best in the land and from overseas will be looking to follow

Shane’s lead in the Noosa Triathlon.