Not so long ago, Alex Glenn was unsure whether he would be offered another Brisbane contract.

No wonder the veteran back-rower thought it was “surreal” to be unveiled as the new Broncos skipper on Friday.

But the former Kiwi international didn’t waste time warming to his new role, vowing to lead the glamour club back to greatness in 2020 and end their 14 year premiership drought.

Glenn on Friday became the first non-Queensland player to be named Brisbane captain in the club’s 32-year history, replacing the under pressure Darius Boyd for 2020.

Much to the 31-year-old’s surprise.

Months ago Glenn admitted he was not sure whether he would even remain at Red Hill after being courted by Penrith and linked to Gold Coast Titans as his Broncos contract quickly expired.

In the end Glenn re-signed for another two seasons in November before being told “weeks ago” by coach Anthony Seibold over a Broncos Leagues Club breakfast that he would take over from Boyd as skipper.

Glenn was still overcome with emotion when he faced the media on Friday.

“It is quite surreal. Even driving here (for Friday’s press conference) I kept saying ‘this is crazy’,” Glenn said after fighting back tears over the captaincy announcement.

“I didn’t know where I was going last year, whether I would be going down south.

“So to turn it around and re-sign with a club that I love so much for another two years and then be named club captain, it is something I am so grateful for.

“It’s a huge honour. I am truly blessed. I just want to do everyone proud.”

Glenn has been a humble servant for the Broncos since arriving as a teenager, earning the under 20 captaincy before carving out 259 games for the club after making his NRL debut in 2009.

But Glenn didn’t take long switching to captaincy mode on Friday, saying he wanted to erase the bitter memories of 2019 and bring the premiership trophy back to Brisbane “where it belonged”.

The six-time premiers capped a hot and cold year with an embarrassing 2019 finals exit, a record 58-0 thumping from Parramatta that appeared to seal Boyd’s fate as skipper.

“We came in the first day of pre-season and spoke about that game,” Glenn said.

“We use it as motivation to make sure that never happens again, to make sure we strive for greatness in 2020.

“It (premiership) is always the driving force when I wake up every morning – if I didn’t have my sights on winning a premiership I am in the wrong profession.

“It’s been a long time since we have had a premiership back in Brisbane so my goal is to bring that trophy back where it belongs.”