Casualty ward: Broncos injured stars Adam Reynolds, Payne Haas, Deine Mariner and Brendan Piakura set for early returns
In a massive boost for the Broncos, four injured Brisbane stars are poised to make early injury returns, while an injured South Sydney enforcer is set for 12 weeks on the sidelines. LATEST INJURY NEWS.
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The Broncos have received a huge boost with the ‘Awesome Foursome’ of Adam Reynolds, Payne Haas, Brendan Piakura and Deine Mariner cleared to return for next week’s clash against Wests Tigers.
Brisbane’s injury crisis has eased with coach Kevin Walters revealing Reynolds, Haas, Piakura and Mariner will only miss one more game – Saturday night’s clash against Canberra at Suncorp Stadium.
The key quartet were expected to return for Brisbane’s round 9 grudge match against the Roosters, but the news is even better after all four players ran well at training on Friday morning.
The impending clearance of Mariner, in particular, is remarkable given the Broncos winger suffered a broken back against the Storm a fortnight ago and was expected to miss up to a month.
Piakura (hamstring), Reynolds (hamstring) and Haas (knee) all moved freely at training, with Walters confirming the cavalry is returning for Saturday week’s road trip to Campbelltown after the Raiders clash.
Asked if there was a temptation to bring Haas back against a physical Canberra pack, Walters said: “No, not really.
“With the medical staff, we have our players’ best interests at heart. We will give Payne another week, he will be right for next week.”
Back-up playmaker Jock Madden will call the shots against the Raiders but Walters is relishing his champion skipper Reynolds being back to torment the Tigers.
“Adam is running well which excites me and he will be right for next week,” Walters said.
“Brendan looks like he will be good and Deine as well.
“They should all be right next week, but we have to get through this week first.
“We have a big game in front of us with the 17 we have against Canberra and I’m comfortable with our 17 and the improvements I’m looking for.
“We need a strong performance at home in front of our fans.”
Walters backed Reece Walsh to settle after last week’s return from a facial fracture and he called for Brisbane’s fullback sensation to get the nod ahead of Kalyn Ponga for the Queensland No. 1 jumper.
Walsh and Ponga are locked in a superstar battle for the Maroons fullback spot for Origin I on June 5, but Walters – who gave Ponga his Queensland debut in 2018 – says ‘Reece Lightning’ should get the nod.
“I certainly would (pick Walsh at fullback),” Walters said.
“I think Reece did everything right last year.
“Billy (Slater) is the coach and he will pick the team, but we are so fortunate as Queenslanders when we put our Origin hat on, we have good depth in all the positions.
“Fullback is one of those with ‘Walshy’ and Kalyn squabbling over only the one jumper, so we’ll see how that goes.
“Reece is still only a kid, 21 or 22 this year. There’s lots of improvement in him, but from where he has started, it’s quite exciting for us and also for Reece.
“It’s only his second game back (from injury).
“He will take some good learnings from last week and I’m sure he will inject himself into this game.”
Ricky Stuart’s Raiders ambushed the Broncos 20-14 last year at Suncorp and Walters is wary of a third-placed Canberra side buoyed by last week’s golden-point victory over the Titans.
“Our discipline has to be a lot better,” he said.
“Just little things like offside from kicks, being sloppy around the ruck and the play the ball.
“All those discipline areas we need to be better at this week and we have spoken about it.
“Canberra have a tough side and are very gritty, so it will be a good experience for our fellas.”
DOUBLE INJURY BLOW FOR SOUTHS
– Brent Read, David Riccio, Michael Carayannis
South Sydney forward Tevita Tatola is set to miss up to 12 weeks after breaking a bone in his foot.
The Rabbitohs confirmed Tatola had fractured the fifth metatarsal in his foot and would require surgery after suffering the injury against Cronulla a week ago.
“Junior Tatola sustained a foot injury very early in the game versus Cronulla and he had to leave the field,” Souths head of performance Andrew Croll said.
“On assessment it looked like a. fairly significant foot injury. He had scans the next day and has gone in for surgery to repair that foot fracture.
“Unfortunately that is quite a lengthy timeline on return – he is going to six weeks non-weight bearing and typically it is around a 12 week rehab and return to play timeline.”
Winger Tyrone Munro is also facing an extended stint on the sidelines after re-injuring the shoulder that sidelined him at the start of the year.
“Tyrone Munro unfortunately has re-injured that collarbone,” Croll said.
“He has gone in for scans to confirm that fracture. It looks like he will have surgery to repair that this coming Friday.”
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