Broncos blow: Kotoni Staggs to miss start of season due to injury, Michael Maguire avoids round 1 selection headache

The Broncos will be without one of their most important players for the start of the NRL season.

The Broncos have suffered a major setback on the eve of the season with strike centre Kotoni Staggs set to miss up to six weeks after scans confirmed he suffered a quad injury during their trial win over the Bulldogs.

Staggs left the field early and did not return, with the club confirming he could miss the opening month of the season that begins for them with a trip to Sydney to face the Roosters on March 6.

Kotoni Staggs was off early this afternoon with a reported quad issue - Broncos indicating it was mostly a precautionary move.

Hopefully just tightness, but even if a minor strain present would still be a good chance to play Round 1 in 2 weeks time. pic.twitter.com/0VBURFkr5p

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) February 22, 2025

Michael Maguire faced a selection headache before the injury with Deine Mariner and Gehamat Shibasaki battling it out to play left centre, but both men now look set to play next week.

“Kotoni has picked up a quad injury and had a scan yesterday – he’ll spend the next 4-6 weeks with our rehab staff,” Broncos head of performance Dave Ballard said.

“We know he’ll be doing everything he can to get back on the paddock and has already begun that rehab program today.”

Jock Madden won’t be available for round 1 selection after he picked up a low-grade hamstring strain, while Payne Haas is on track to face the Roosters next week.

Originally published as Broncos blow: Kotoni Staggs to miss start of season due to injury, Michael Maguire avoids round 1 selection headache