By Nick Wright
Any talk that the Brisbane Broncos would be a shadow of last year’s grand finalists have been extinguished, with their triumph of the Canberra Raiders sending an ominous signal to the NRL as a host of big names prepare to announce their injury comebacks.
Coach Kevin Walters’ men turned the screws in a 34-10 victory, as star prop Payne Haas [knee], captain Adam Reynolds [hamstring], and rookies Deine Mariner and Brendan Piakura [back and ankle respectively] all watched from the sidelines.
Jordan Riki celebrates scoring for the Brisbane Broncos against the Canberra Raiders.Credit: NRL Photos
All are in line to return next week, and will do so in a team who has won three of their past four encounters severely undermanned.
Fullback Reece Walsh, who played his first game since suffering a facial fracture last week, was at his enigmatic best on Saturday night - running for 177m and seven tackle busts, while scoring two tries and making three linebreaks, despite making three errors.
“That’s what you get with Walshy, and as he matures he’ll get that out of his game, but right now he’s still learning. The stuff he does is really positive, and it must be uplifting for the guys out on the field,” Walters said.
“There’s no coaching in that, he’s just got that explosiveness in him to break a game open. He struggled early, and when he just decided to run he ran, and we got some good results on the back of that.”
But it was the outrageous showing from five-eighth Ezra Mam that will have Broncos fans salivating at the thought of his reunion with Reynolds.
Mam was in the thick of everything - scoring a try and setting up three others, while also laying on three linebreak assists.
But it was the fact he took a greater responsibility of the kicking duties that stood out, rivalled by his outstanding kick chase. Time after time, he was the first man to make the tackle from a clearance, while his pinpoint bomb gifted Jordan Riki his first try of the year.
Ezra Mam’s kick pressure for the Brisbane Broncos against the Canberra Raiders was on show.Credit: NRL Photos
Through it all, what will please Walters the most ahead of his star quartet returning will be the way the Broncos defended through a tough opening 10 minutes in which they threatened to shoot themselves in the foot.
An early unwillingness to go up for kicks from Raiders halfback Jamal Fogarty - who left the field at halftime with a suspected ruptured bicep - kept Brisbane on the backfoot, as did a series of handling errors.
However, they held firm, largely courtesy of Hudson Young’s failure to ground the ball from a grubber, and will be at least close to full strength for next week’s clash with the Tigers.
“I have to talk to our medical staff, they all trained well on Friday but over the weekend we’ll see and get it together next week,” Walters said.
Cobbo firming for Origin recalls
Selwyn Cobbo has well and truly put himself back in the State of Origin equation.
Cobbo’s move from the wing to centre has proven the perfect timing when it comes to his hopes of earning back his Maroons jumper, with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow’s hamstring injury leaving him incredibly touch-and-go to be fit in time for the June 5 series opener.
The 21-year-old scored twice and made four tackle busts in the opening game last year, but a hip concern kept him out for the rest of the series - replaced by Xavier Coates.
Is Selwyn Cobbo’s State of Origin return looming?Credit: Getty
Should Tabuai-Fidow fail to recover, Cobbo appears locked in a battle with Newcastle veteran Dane Gagai to replace him.
And his try-scoring exploits against the Raiders - which featured 128m and seven tackle busts - have come hot on the heels of a breakout performance against the Dolphins, in which he scored another two tries, ran for more than 200m and broke eight tackles.
The fact he performed so admirably on Saturday against New Zealand Test star Matt Timoko showcased that even in the face of a daunting challenge, he was up to the task.
How long can young props be held back?
Haas’ return to the Broncos fold is looming, and with that, someone will be forced from a team hot from three comprehensive wins and a tight defeat to the Melbourne Storm.
But in the midst of that, the question has to be asked: how long can Xavier Willison be held back?
The rookie prop has been one of Brisbane’s best middles coming off the bench since returning to the side in round three against the Panthers, and once again against Canberra he showcased the X-factor potential that has him billed as a long-term prospect at Red Hill.
Xavier Willison has been phenomenal since returning to the Brisbane Broncos lineup.Credit: NRL Photos
Coming off the bench, Willison ran for 144m - taking his season average to 128m a game - and built momentum with every carry that enabled hooker Billy Walters to probe and get his backline on the front foot.
The re-injection of Haas, along with the profound form of Pat Carrigan - who finished with 194m and 37 tackles - could also trigger the rise of one-game teenager Ben Te Kura, who impressed on debut against the Storm before being left out of the team ever since.
The 205cm behemoth ran for 115m and scored a try that night, highlighting his strength close to the tryline, and
Haas’ comeback from knee surgery could be the composure upfront Walters needs to be confident of fielding the young duo together.
Corey Jensen and Fletcher Baker have performed admirably off the bench, with the former’s 186m pivotal on Saturday and Baker’s leap for a kick to finish Riki’s try a key moment.
But there is no doubt Willison and Te Kura have the makings of long-term allies for Haas, and with the Kangaroos’ sensation itching to make his way back to the field, that could be what gives the youngsters the ammunition to take on more prominent roles.
Is Madden the answer to Reynolds’ succession?
Jock Madden’s time as a Bronco has come with mixed results being shuffled in and out of the team for fleeting appearances, but his statement on Saturday could be the launchpad that cements him as Reynolds’ successor.
After being thrown to the wolves against the Panthers, the 26-year-old returned with a more composed performance with the boot against the Dolphins and looked to run the ball with greater vigour.
Jock Madden’s kicking game for the Brisbane Broncos terrorised Canberra Raiders fullback Chevy Stewart.Credit: NRL Photos
Those traits came to the fore far more emphatically against the Raiders - his bombs terrorising rookie Raiders fullback Chevy Stewart, leading to Mam’s try.
Madden finished with two try assists, two linebreak assists and 72 running metres, and his kicking game almost resembled the nightmare Reynolds dished up to the North Queensland Cowboys three weeks ago.
Reynolds extended his stay in Brisbane until the end of 2025, but his regular battle with injuries could continue to be a concern even before that time comes.
As for beyond that, Madden will be relying on strong performances when given his chances with the looming threat of teenage prospect Coby Black.
The 18-year-old is yet to make his Queensland Cup debut, but he was profoundly impressive in his first game of senior rugby league in the preseason, lining up for the Broncos in an unofficial trial against Wynnum Manly and setting up two tries with his sharp kicking game.
For now, however, Madden has sent a message: that future jersey is his to lose.