NRL 2022: Jordan Riki opens up on Mad Monday stoush with Broncos teammate Tom Flegler

Jordan Riki has taken responsibility for his Mad Monday punch-up with Tom Flegler and pledged to join forces with his teammate to lead the Broncos to the finals this season.

Jordan Riki of the Broncos is tackled during the round 20 NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and the North Queensland Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium, on July 30, 2021, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

An “embarrassed” Jordan Riki says he has buried the hatchet with Tom Flegler over their boozy pub punch-up and pledged to join forces with his teammate to lead the Broncos to the finals this season.

As the Broncos prepare for their season opener against Souths on Friday week, Riki insists Brisbane have no issues with team morale in the wake of his alcohol-fuelled altercation with Flegler last September.

Brisbane’s disappointing 2021 campaign ended in drama when Riki and Flegler sensationally came to blows as the Broncos’ Mad Monday celebrations took a sour turn.

Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free In Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free now.

It is understood Flegler got sick and tired of Riki goading another teammate, prompting the Broncos prop to punch the Kiwi back-rower, who was left bloodied and required stitches to fix his lip.

The bar-room bust-up prompted Broncos chief executive Dave Donaghy to read the riot act to the playing group, warning Brisbane’s new regime under coach Kevin Walters and football boss Ben Ikin would not tolerate off-field drama.

Jordan Riki is determined to help lead the Broncos to the finals. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

Now Riki has stepped up to take responsibility for his clash with Flegler, saying time has healed wounds as the Broncos bank on the emerging forward duo to help spearhead Brisbane’s finals fightback this year.

“What happened was one of those things,” Riki said of his Mad Monday stink with Flegler.

“I was incredibly embarrassed by my actions and I know Tom was, too, but we have to move on and keep working hard together at the club.

“Me and Tommy ... we are very close mates. He was one of the first people I met when I moved over here (to Australia from New Zealand) at a young age.

“It was very kind of him to take me into his house and we formed that brotherly bond.

“He is a year or two older than me, so I’m like his younger brother and sometimes I can do things that get on his toes and he will do some things that get on mine.”

Riki said his physical clash with Flegler should not be viewed as a sign that Broncos players don’t get along ahead of one of the most critical campaigns in this club’s 34-year history.

“At the end of the day, we are like brothers and we are good teammates,” Riki said. “I’m sure people out there have brothers or sisters and you can get frustrated with each other sometimes.

Tom Flegler and Jordan Riki have moved on from their punch up on Mad Monday. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“It’s like that here, we are with each other almost 24-7 and at times people get on each other’s nerves. But the next day, you can have a laugh and a joke about it.

“That’s all it was with me and Tom. We are a tight-knit family here.”

Riki made his return from a shoulder injury in Brisbane’s 26-6 trial loss to the Cowboys last Saturday night and will be a key strike weapon in the Broncos’ back row this season. The 22-year-old says the finals are a non-negotiable target for Walters’ troops.

“We all want to rip in and make the finals this year,” he said.

“We need to be brutally honest with each other to play finals. There were moments where a few people were afraid to speak up last year, but now we have the right players here (including key off-season recruits Adam Reynolds and Kurt Capewell) to do that.

“We need to hold ourselves accountable personally.

“The last couple of years here have been pretty sour for us, but if we can nail our defence, I can’t see why we can’t make the top eight this year.”

Originally published as NRL 2022: Jordan Riki opens up on Mad Monday stoush with Broncos teammate Tom Flegler