By Nick Wright
Xavier Willison has vowed to forge a lethal front-row pairing with Payne Haas in 2025, as the rising prop dismissed suggestions the Broncos lacked the depth to be premiership contenders.
Fresh off re-signing with the club through to the end of 2027, the 22-year-old is determined to issue a reminder to Brisbane’s doubters about their title credentials ever since the loss of key enforcer, Thomas Flegler, to the Dolphins.
With Haas limited to just 14 NRL games through injury, the Broncos lacked the same intimidation as in their previous grand final season – finishing last for post-contact metres.
Xavier Willison believes the Broncos already have the depth to push back into premiership contention.Credit: NRL Photos
But Willison is adamant he and fellow young prospect Ben Te Kura had the tools to reignite the Broncos’ middle, and provide Haas the support he needs.
“We’ve got some young players like myself and Benny, so there’s still lots of depth there. It’s just [about] being fit and healthy,” Willison said.
“That’s the goal, to get the starting spot next year, so I have to have a really good preseason and work really hard. I just need to keep improving my confidence, keep growing and learning.
“I’ve always wanted to stay at this club, it’s given me a chance coming from New Zealand – they believed in me.”
Xavier Willison
“It was my first year in the main NRL squad, so I just want to solidify that spot, go further and push for that starting spot.”
Haas has already been seen at Broncos training two weeks before his scheduled return, with the majority of the group consisting of train and trial players eager to prove to new coach Michael Maguire they warranted an NRL shot.
Among the group includes one-time Melbourne Storm prop Tristan Powell.
Tristan Powell made his NRL debut for the Melbourne Storm this year.Credit: NRL Photos
Powell garnered his sole first-grade cap in the Storm’s round 26 loss to the Cowboys, running for 113 metres and making 22 tackles off the bench.
His opportunity came after impressive Queensland Cup stints between the Burleigh Bears and Brisbane Tigers, and a former teammate has declared he had the makings of an NRL regular.
Jeff Lynch, whose career was derailed by multiple ACL ruptures across time with the Canberra Raiders and Gold Coast Titans, played alongside Powell for the Bears – still laughing at memories of being referred to as his “big brother”.
Lynch told this masthead the 23-year-old’s desire to perform the “one-percenters” would be tailor-made for the Maguire regimen, pointing to his try-scoring exploits in the Tigers’ 2023 grand final triumph – ironically against the Bears.
And he believed the ability he showed for Melbourne was just par for the course.
“He’s someone who will never let you down. I’ve always had very high expectations of Tritto, and I knew he was a lot better than a Queensland Cup player, so it never surprised me and I expected him to kill it when he got to the NRL,” Lynch said.
“But I don’t think you could have expected him to have such a dominant performance in his first game as a middle forward. His carries were dominant, and he found his front for quick play the balls.
“Then his one-percent efforts, being first at the other end of the field with his kick chase, and then involving himself in one or two touches in attack the very next set, every set, for 40 minutes.
“I think a game like Tristan Powell’s is the platinum standard front rower – you can’t get better than what he’s dishing out. The front rowers have changed over the last five years – Tritto’s got footwork, fitness, power and leg speed … and he’s got the work ethic and desire to win.
“Nothing fazes him – he’s not scared of anyone and will go and take what’s his. It’s exciting times for Tritto, and possibly the Broncos, and wherever he’s playing, the forward pack are very lucky.”
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