NRL 2022: Broncos forward Kurt Capewell insists he has no regrets about leaving premiers Penrith
Kurt Capewell won an NRL premiership and only lost four games during two seasons with the Panthers, but he insists he has no regrets about leaving Penrith for the battling Broncos.
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Broncos forward Kurt Capewell insists he has no regrets about leaving the high-flying Panthers for battling Brisbane and he hasn’t poked the bear by sledging Penrith’s star prop James Fisher-Harris.
Capewell will make his first appearance against his former club when the Broncos tackle the unbeaten Panthers at BlueBet Stadium on Friday night.
Capewell’s two-year cameo at the foot of the Blue Mountains netted 32 games for the Panthers, including two grand finals and last year’s memorable premiership triumph.
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While the Panthers are the only unbeaten team after five rounds this season and on track to defend their title, the Broncos have been up-and-down in a 2-3 start and are staring at a fourth straight defeat.
But Capewell, who played his 100th NRL game in last week’s loss to the Roosters, insists he made the right decision in moving to Brisbane despite the Panthers clearly anchored in a premiership window.
“I don’t look at things like that,” Capewell said. “I’m pretty happy where I am at the moment. It’s an awesome club and I’m back up in Queensland, so I’m enjoying it.
“I really enjoyed my time at Penrith, I’ll have memories and mates there forever. I thought it was the right time for me to get back home and spend some time with family.
“I have no regrets at all leaving Penrith. I came here because I’m not scared of a challenge.
“I know this club is a great club, it has so much history and I look at these athletes that are here and the players that we’ve got, I wanted them to help play their best footy and really turn the Broncos around.
“That was the major attraction of me coming to the Broncos. Plus I’m a Queenslander and I have my family here as well, so I love living back here.”
Capewell, 28, only lost four games during his tenure at the Panthers as coach Ivan Cleary turned Penrith into the NRL’s most dominant team.
But he is adamant there is no secret to Penrith’s success, with the Panthers building their dominance on a simple foundation.
“The one thing I have learnt from Penrith is that the ‘one percenters’ mean everything,” he said. “Their effort stuff is what they build their game on, it’s the foundation of their game. If every player puts in their best effort it makes them a pretty good team.
“That’s the key to building a premiership club and hopefully I can bring that attitude to the Broncos.
“I wanted the challenge of moving to a new team and establishing myself as a leader at the Broncos and teaching some of the younger boys the stuff I have picked up along the way.
“I do the ‘one percenters’ well, stuff like making my tackles and leading the kick chase, and that’s why ‘Kevvie’ (coach Kevin Walters) got me here.”
While the Panthers have plenty of attacking stars like Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai, it is the muscle of Fisher-Harris up front that provides the platform for their brilliance.
Capewell recently rated Broncos teammate Payne Haas as the NRL’s No. 1 prop, ahead of Fisher-Harris, but insists it won’t fire up his ex-teammate.
“I know ‘Fish’ and he plays at 100 per cent every game,” he said. “I don’t think stirring him up is going to change anything. Every carry he takes is the same as every other carry.
“His aggression in defence is something he is good at. He does his job every week and plays big minutes. He is really handy to have in your team.”
The record of futility Reynolds is desperate to avoid
-Peter Badel
Adam Reynolds has declared he is up for the challenge of rebuilding the embattled Broncos as Brisbane’s marquee recruit plots revenge against the Penrith team that broke his heart in last year’s NRL grand final.
The task of fixing the Broncos has been laid bare with Reynolds in danger of losing four of his opening five games in a season for the first time in his decorated 10-year career in the NRL.
The Broncos outlaid $800,000-a-season for Reynolds to close out games, but the wily veteran was outgunned by 19-year-old rival Sam Walker on Friday night as the Roosters consigned Brisbane to a third consecutive defeat.
Since his move to Red Hill, Reynolds’ form has been patchy. He has tasted victory just once in his first four games, a gutsy 16-10 defeat of Canterbury, and has yet to salute at his new home, Suncorp Stadium, following losses to the Cowboys and Roosters.
Now he is under pressure to snap a three-game losing streak on Friday night against the Panthers, who ensured Reynolds finished his 231-game career at Souths in tears with their 14-12 premiership win in last year’s Suncorp decider.
Reynolds will again wage an enthralling scrumbase shootout with Penrith maestro Nathan Cleary and Brisbane’s big-money import said he will not relent until he makes the Broncos a force again.
“It’s a work in progress. I am continually striving to get better,” said Reynolds when asked to critique his opening month of form in Broncos colours.
“We’ve got some new combinations, but for me it’s about enjoying the challenges as it comes.
“It’s not an easy ride in the NRL and sometimes you have to dig yourself out of it. I am enjoying it at the Broncos. I am in a good headspace, I am happy, and I love coming to work with my teammates.
“I like a challenge. I won’t die wondering and I will keep fighting to improve this team.
“I have to keep plugging away ... I am always continually trying to improve as a player.”
Reynolds appeared to suffer a knee injury while goalkicking against the Roosters, but he was given the green light by Broncos medicos to face the Panthers.
During his premiership-winning decade at Redfern, Reynolds was accustomed to flying starts to a campaign.
Only three times in 10 seasons in red-and-green did Reynolds experience three losses in Souths’ first five games - but the champion halfback never suffered four consecutive defeats.
If the Broncos crash to Penrith at BlueBet Stadium, Reynolds will confront his worst-ever start to a season, but the 31-year-old says Brisbane’s fighting display in their 24-20 loss to the
Roosters is evidence they can compete with the top sides.
“We were miles ahead of the last two weeks (previous losses to the Cowboys and Warriors),” Reynolds said.
“That is the standard we have set and we have to follow that up this week against Penrith.
“We let ourselves down in the second half (against the Roosters) with only two good-ball sets, but we fought right until the end.
“It’s frustrating because we are beating ourselves. I know we can be a top footy team, but there is no easy fix.
“Nothing is given easy to you in this competition. We have to get out of it and that’s what I will try and do.”
Fellow Brisbane recruit Kurt Capewell, who returns to face his former Panthers teammates this week, backed Reynolds to eventually turn the Broncos into a top-eight team.
“He is getting us around the park really well,” Capewell said.
“Adam is a very crafty player and he directs us around the park really well.
“He has settled in fine and the boys are still learning how to play off him ... the one thing that does take time is learning how to play off a new half.”
Walters warns Niu not to bomb it against the Panthers
- Peter Badel
Broncos coach Kevin Walters has warned rookie fullback Tesi Niu will be targeted by NRL rivals after another shaky performance under the high ball against the Roosters on Friday night at Suncorp Stadium.
Niu faces the most daunting assignment of his embryonic NRL career this Friday night when he confronts Penrith on the premiers’ home soil and the formidable boot of Panthers halfback maestro Nathan Cleary.
While Niu showed promising touches in attack against the Roosters, amassing 125 metres, nine tackle busts and a try assist, the 20-year-old continued to have some nervous moments trying to defuse high kicks in Brisbane’s heartbreaking 24-20 defeat.
Niu allowed a number of bombs from Roosters duo Luke Keary and Sam Walker to bounce and he appears to lack confidence under the high ball after a disappointing previous fortnight against the Cowboys and Warriors.
The former Tongan Test whizkid is still developing in the No.1 jumper - the Roosters clash was his 18th game at fullback from 26 career matches - and Cleary is certain to launch an aerial bombardment on Niu this week.
Does Tesi Niu know he’s the fullback? Where is he? #NRLBroncosRoosters
— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) April 8, 2022
I thought Tesi Niu was the Roosters best player tonight.
— S B (@Conigman) April 8, 2022
My goodness he is shocking
Walters is keeping faith in Niu, who is being mentored at Broncos training by former Test fullback Darius Boyd, but he admits the youngster will be terrorised by the NRL’s best kickers.
“He is going to be a target now for a long time,” Walters said.
“Darius Boyd works with our outside backs on the catching side of things and again, it is a work in progress for Tesi.
“Sometimes you don’t get it right on the field. It never goes perfectly.
“Adam Reynolds (Broncos halfback recruit) will attest to that, he’s played almost 250 games and he makes errors, no game goes perfectly.
“You continually try and work on your game and get better and that (defusing bombs) is an area Tesi will get better.
“There will be some mistakes and we accept that. It’s not easy playing in his position, but we love his attitude and his determination to get better.”
Broncos winger Corey Oates, who is confident of overcoming a leg injury to face the Panthers, said he is still developing a backfield understanding with Niu when communicating on high kicks.
“It’s more working on our combinations,” Oates said.
“Those bombs that go up between winger and fullback, we have to know who is going to override the call and Tesi and myself have a pretty good system.
“Whoever overrides the last call, it’s their ball to catch.
“Sometimes Tesi does look hesitant, but we are both waiting to see who will call it.
“He is a lot more confident and he is attacking the ball more. He will build as the weeks go on and he has to get confidence out of each game.
“The combinations between the fullback and winger on high balls are important.”
PLAYER RATINGS: Baby-faced ex-Bronco sinks Brisbane
Bloody Sam Walker. As if it’s not painful enough that a once-in-a-generation Queensland talent would walk out on the Broncos, the teen freak duly saunters back into Suncorp and puts the boot in, literally, to sink a Brisbane outfit that still wonders how on earth it lost him.
Walker’s one-two punch to flatten Brisbane 24-20 was better than anything Payne Haas threw at Albert Kelly during the Broncos’ infamous ‘Shoe-gate’ scuffle.
This loss didn’t just hurt because it was inflicted by former Bronco Walker. No, it stung because Brisbane staggered with the finish line in sight. They did enough to win. They were brave. They were heroic. They thought they had an Ice Man in Adam Reynolds to cook the Chooks. Instead, it was baby-faced ex-Bronco Sam who turned ice-cold killer.
TESI NIU - 6
Darren Lockyer was one of Brisbane’s great teenage custodians and he should be sent to Red Hill to educate young Tesi on one of the NRL’s fullback commandments: ‘Thou shalt not let the ball bounce’. This was an improved display on Niu’s forgettable past fortnight against the Cowboys and Warriors but Niu still looks as nervous under the high ball as a pimply teenager looking for love at a blue light disco. Started well with a slick pass for Corey Oates’ opening try and his nine tackle busts and 125 metres shows Niu has the running game to be an asset. But if he won’t start attacking the high ball, he will be on a slippery slope to the Queensland Cup.
COREY OATES - 7
Only ‘Oatesy’ could go down in a writhing mess after landing on teammate Herbie Farnworth’s leg while leaping in the air to celebrate a hat-trick of tries. The Broncos veteran has had more surgeries than the Kardashians but not even a case of friendly fire could take the gloss of a fine performance from the former Queensland Origin winger. Suncorp Stadium’s greatest tryscorer enjoyed his first treble since 2018 as he tested the Roosters with 152 metres and three tackle busts. Off-contract at season’s end, every game is vital for his career at Red Hill.
KOTONI STAGGS - 9
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Mr Olympia. At least that’s how Roosters coach Trent Robinson described Staggs after Special K hit back at his critics with one of the most damaging performances of his 56-game NRL career. After a quiet opening month, Staggs exploded in action, tormenting Paul Momirovski on so many occasions his battered Roosters rival might need a session on the brown couch with Dr Phil (Gould). His 35th-minute try was Staggs at his bullocking, tackle-busting best. Finished with 182 metres and a staggering 13 tackle busts in a magnificent display match only by the brilliance of centre opposite Joey Manu.
HERBIE FARNWORTH - 5
Took a back seat to enjoy the Staggs party after his first fortnight of British brilliance. It wasn’t really Herbie’s night, although he showed a good turn of speed to chase down a trybound Kevin Naiqama after the Roosters winger broke clear. Nothing major for the highlights reel, save for the last-minute tryscoring calamity which left Oates in a leg brace in the dressing sheds. The type of player who gives his all for the Broncos every week.
SELWYN COBBO - 6
Super Selwyn started with a bang and was one of Brisbane’s best players in the first half. His trademark braveheart kick returns came to the fore early when he did superbly well to field a Roosters kick in-goal and somehow escape into the field of play as he resembled a human pinball fearlessly bouncing off Roosters defenders. In the 32nd minute, he almost produced one of the tries of the season, only to knock on as he tried to reel-in an Adam Reynolds kick that had taken a wicked bounce. Faded out of the contest in the second half and is best left on the wing to develop his game in the embryonic stages of his NRL career.
BILLY WALTERS - 5
Resembled Trevor ‘The Axe’ Gillmeister in the first half with some technically brutal front-on defensive shots that cut Roosters ballrunners in half. Walters is brave and punches well above his weight in defence, but aside from a few promising snipes in the opening 40, he needs to impose himself more in attack to convince he is the long-term solution at No.6. Came up with a bad miss for Kevin Naiqama’s bust and then threw a second-half intercept for Joey Manu which swung momentum in the Roosters’ favour. Billy was well outpointed by Roosters teenage sensation Sam Walker, who is cooler than an Alaskan igloo.
ADAM REYNOLDS - 5
The Reynolds Revolution won’t have Buck the Horse doing laps of honour at Suncorp just yet. After four games in Broncos colours, Reynolds has yet to taste victory in two home affairs at Suncorp and the new skipper is some way off the imperious form that steered the Rabbitohs to last year’s grand final. Oates’ final two tries came off Reynolds kicks, so the magic is flickering, but the reality is the Broncos paid $2.4 million for the champion halfback to get them home in tight games. This was the type of tussle crying out for a captain’s knock in the dying minutes. When the game was there to be won, a 19-year-old in Roosters colours stepped up.
KEENAN PALASIA - 6
An improved performance from Palasia back where he belongs - in the middle of the park - after injury-enforced stints in the back row in recent weeks. In the absence of the suspended Tom Flegler, Palasia tried hard to operate as a foil for Payne Haas and his 109 metres, with 21 tackles, was an honourable effort without putting the Fear of God into the Roosters pack.
JAKE TURPIN - 4
The beauty of Turpin is what you see is what you get. The problem is what Brisbane sees from ‘Turps’ might not help get them a finals berth. The tough-as-nails hooker tried to break the shackles early with one impressive charge up the middle but Turpin simply doesn’t possess the Damien Cook-like speed or Harry Grant-style vision to ignite Brisbane around the rucks. Turpin tackles like a terrier but the Broncos need some dummy-half dynamite to blow the game open. Where it comes from is anyone’s guess.
PAYNE HAAS - 8
Haas is the NRL’s version of Ivan Drago. Surely this 118kg wrecking ball is not human? After a week marred by his ‘Shoe-gate’ scuffle with Albert Kelly, Haas put aside the drama - and a possible looming suspension - to produce another superhuman display against the Roosters. No other forward came close to his 172 metres and his 20 runs was a game-high effort. Poor old Nat Butcher was worse for wear when Haas came flying across in cover and stopped the Roosters forward scoring a certain try in the 46th minute. Now Butcher knows how poor Alby felt on the receiving end of a Haas left jab. The NSW Origin enforcer is set to be suspended by the NRL this week. If so, heaven help the Broncos pack against Penrith next Friday night.
KURT CAPEWELL - 6
Returned from a calf injury to celebrate his 100th NRL game and the Roosters duly rained on his Suncorp parade. Capewell personified Brisbane’s defensive spirit, topping the tackle count with 34, but how much the Queensland Origin utility can offer the Broncos in attack on the fringes is the million-dollar question.
JORDAN RIKI - 6
Like Capewell, Riki was returning from injury and he showed genuine toughness carrying rib-cartilage damage to bolster Brisbane’s forward stocks following the suspension of Flegler and the loss of Pat Carrigan to a knee injury. Let’s hope Riki doesn’t become Brisbane’s new Dane Carlaw. The Kiwi has the 106kg rippling physique to have a gaggle of females salivating on Caxton Street, but he needs to flex his muscle in attack to give Brisbane some punch on the edges.
KOBE HETHERINGTON - 6
Contracted Covid last month and Brisbane’s internal testing showed Hetherington’s aerobic system was badly affected by the illness. Still, the son of Bulldogs legend Jason Hetherington only knows one way and, like his old man, Kobe threw himself into the Roosters defence. Finished with 107 metres and 13 tackles without a miss, but he needs to develop a passing game before the line if he wants to seriously challenge Carrigan for the No.13 jumper.
INTERCHANGE
RYAN JAMES - 5
About 25,000 mouths gasped at Suncorp when James went down late in the game clutching at his knee. The prospect of a fourth knee reconstruction would have been career-ending, but thankfully James eventually rose to his feet and soldiered on. The former Titans skipper turns 31 in July and the pace of the game is testing him.
COREY JENSEN - 5
The former Cowboys grand-final forward produced some impressive charges in his first stint in the opening stanza to suggest he can be a regular contributor off interchange. Finished with a 37-minute shift and held his own with 16 tackles in midfield. Jensen resembles your local Chinese takeaway meal - nothing too flash, but gets the job done.
TC ROBATI - 2
Limited opportunities for Tropical Cyclone after his impressive showing against the Warriors last week. Relegated to the bench, he only saw seven minutes - precisely the amount of time the Roosters took to turn a Bondi boilover into a Suncorp Houdini act.
CORY PAIX - 4
Coach Kevvie has to bite the bullet with Paix. The rising halfback-turned-hooker has had more close shaves than “Evel” Knievel but surely now is the time to finally give Paix a crack in the Broncos starting side at hooker. Paix was one of Brisbane’s standout performers in pre-season before he contracted Covid. Kevvie can’t die wondering. Let’s see what Paix has got in the No.9 jumper.
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Originally published as NRL 2022: Broncos forward Kurt Capewell insists he has no regrets about leaving premiers Penrith
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