NRL 2025: Broncos hail rookie Coby Black as Adam Reynolds long term halfback replacement
Broncos young gun Coby Black has been hailed the long-term halfback successor to Adam Reynolds, as the rising rookie prepares for his first hitout under new coach Michael Maguire.
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Broncos young gun Coby Black has been hailed the long-term halfback successor to Adam Reynolds as the teen sensation prepares to be blooded by new Brisbane coach Michael Maguire.
The 18-year-old Black will get his first taste of the Maguire era when he turns out for the Broncos in Saturday night’s pre-season trial against Burleigh at Pizzey Park.
The second-string Broncos side will be captained by Jock Madden, the 24-year-old former Wests Tigers playmaker who has served a two-year apprenticeship under Reynolds since moving to Brisbane in 2023.
Madden will start in the No.7 jumper alongside five-eighth Josh Rogers, but Black, who will come off the bench in jumper No.17, is regarded as a possible 10-year playmaker in the post-Reynolds era.
The 34-year-old Reynolds is expected to retire at season’s end, opening the door for Madden and veteran off-season recruit Ben Hunt to claim the Broncos No.7 jumper in 2026.
But good judges at the Broncos believe former Queensland under-19s halfback Black has the class, composure and kicking game to be the long-term replacement for Reynolds.
“That’s up to him if he wants to take that opportunity,” said Broncos utility back Delouise Hoeter, who will line up alongside Black against Burleigh at Pizzey Park.
“With ‘Madge’ (Maguire) you have got to earn everything. Nothing is just given.
“Coby has been doing that the last few months of pre-season and I’m sure that if he works hard enough he will be more than capable (of replacing Reynolds).
“But we can’t put ‘Reyno’s’ experience and understanding of the game aside because he has almost 300 games and that is hard to get in the NRL.
“I am sure he will (succeed Reynolds) … he just has to earn it.”
Black made his senior debut for the Broncos as a 17-year-old in last year’s corresponding trial against Wynnum Manly and impressed in that clash with his toughness and booming kicking game.
Reynolds has spent the past year mentoring Black and the Gold Coaster is also relishing the arrival of former Dragons skipper Hunt, who is tipped to start the premiership at five-eighth.
“Coby is excited to play,” Hoeter said.
“He has come through the ranks and I have been on a few car rides with him.
“He is still young and is doing really well. Ben Hunt has been great for him.
“Everyone knows Ben’s experience and what he has done in the game so Coby is doing well to learn off him.
“He is coming off the bench but everyone has to start somewhere and work their way in.”
Newly-appointed Queensland under-19s coach Darius Boyd worked with Black in the junior Maroons set-up last year and says the playmaker has the talent to succeed in the NRL.
“Definitely,” Boyd said.
“Everyone saw how capable he was last year in the Queensland-19s game and playing Queensland Cup.
“He was one of the best players in that under-19s game.
“Coby has a strong kicking game, he is humble, speaks well and has a great defensive game.
“He has a bright future and great potential at the Broncos. I think Adam Reynolds can help him as well.”
ROOKIE HALF TO TAKE THE REINS AT BRONCOS
Boom halfback Coby Black is ready to turn up the heat on Broncos champion Adam Reynolds with the teen sensation to help launch Brisbane’s pre-season campaign this Saturday night.
New Broncos coach Michael Maguire will road test Black – the 18-year-old groomed to succeed Reynolds in the No.7 jumper – in Brisbane’s maiden pre-season hitout against Burleigh Bears at Pizzey Park.
Fellow playmaker Jock Madden will skipper the side at halfback, starting alongside five-eighth Josh Rogers, while Black will wear No.17 and get valuable game time as part of a 26-man squad.
For Black, it marks a return to the venue where he ran riot last year, posting a stunning 46-point haul with two tries and 19 goals playing for feeder club Burleigh in a 130-0 belting of Wide Bay Bulls.
Black’s blitzkrieg broke a 129-year-old pointscoring record.
Now Black is back to face Burleigh in Broncos colours, with the opening hitout of the 2025 campaign giving the promising playmaker a golden opportunity to impress Maguire.
While captain Reynolds only needs to stay fit to start the premiership at halfback, the Broncos have big plans for Black, who is vying with Madden as part of Brisbane’s succession plan to replace the skipper, who is tipped to retire at season’s end.
Madden will be keen to make a statement against Burleigh, with Maguire to also assess Brisbane’s train-and-trial hopefuls and development players, including fullback Latrell Siegwalt and hulking prop Va’a Semu.
But all eyes will be on Black, the incumbent Queensland under-19s halfback who got a taste of senior action in last year’s corresponding opening trial against Wynnum Manly at Kougari Oval.
“I’m looking forward to watching the guys play,” Maguire said of Madden and Black.
“Everyone has put a good effort into what we’ve done in pre-season and now it’s time to put that into practice.
“It’s great having Coby and Jock in our squad.
“It’s important in the NRL to have a strong 30 to 36-man squad.
“At some stage of the season, they may be called upon, so you have to be ready and this is a chance for those guys to play some football.
“We’ll give our younger guys a go this week and then I’ll play the NRL guys in the next few trials.”
Black was embroiled in a selection storm last year when Queensland under-19s selectors were reluctant to pick him, only for coach Ben Te’o to successfully fight for his eventual inclusion.
Te’o is now an assistant coach to Maguire at the Broncos and the former premiership hit man has huge wraps on Black, who has impressed with his composure and booming kicking game.
Standing 180cm and weighing 87kg, Black played five Hostplus Cup games for Souths Logan last year and was promoted to the NRL squad by the Broncos, who have signed the Gold Coast-born schemer until the end of 2026.
Black will be putting pressure on Reynolds to make his NRL debut this season and Brisbane’s skipper welcomed the challenge, saying the classy teenager will bring out the best in the champion halfback.
Asked about Black’s development, Reynolds said recently: “When there is competition at training, it makes everyone better.
“It doesn’t matter who you are. If you have competition in the squad, it will make you a better player.
“I like the competition. You see those guys (like Black) leading from the front and they are a bit younger, fresher and fitter and it’s good, it gives me something to chase.
“I love seeing players in my position excel, it drives me to want to get better each and every day and I continually challenge them as well, trying to make them one or two per cent better every day.”
Maguire will keep his NRL big guns in cotton wool for Brisbane’s final two trials, but the Burleigh clash will give a number of players a chance to press their first-grade claims.
Tyson Smoothy, Brisbane’s bench hooker in the 2023 grand final, will start at No.9 in a bid to keep rising rake Blake Mozer at bay, while 205cm prop Ben Te Kura will enjoy his first hitout of 2025.
Meanwhile, train-and-triallist Sione Hopoate – the 26-year-old son of controversial Manly legend John – is a late bloomer looking to make a statement and secure a long-term future at the Broncos.
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