Broncos Las Vegas team news: Brendan Piakura cleared to fly out with squad

The Brisbane Broncos have received a huge boost with Brendan Piakura making a remarkable injury recovery while a former Wallaby made a big impression during training at Red Hill.

Brendan Piakura is expected to play in round one despite picking up a knee injury during the trial in Mackay. Picture: NRL Photos

Brisbane young gun Brendan Piakura has been cleared by medicos to travel to Las Vegas as the Broncos prepare to blood a former Wallabies bolter in Saturday night’s trial against Manly.

The Broncos have received a huge boost with Piakura officially passing a fitness test on his injured knee ahead of Brisbane’s departure to America on Thursday morning.

Piakura’s impressive progress came as former Wallaby Joseph Tomane prepares for his Broncos debut - 16 years after the Nudgee College product first appeared for the Melbourne Storm in the NRL.

There were fears Piakura could be left behind in Australia after the boom back-rower suffered MCL damage to his left knee in Brisbane’s 46-20 trial defeat of the Cowboys last Sunday.

But Piakura appeared to train without too much discomfort in a 90-minute hitout, virtually booking his plane ticket to America and raising hopes he will be fit for Brisbane’s historic round 1 clash at Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium on March 3 (AEST).

Brendan Piakura is expected to play in round one despite picking up a knee injury during the trial in Mackay. Picture: NRL Photos

The Broncos will jet out Thursday for a week-long camp in Los Angeles and back-rower Jordan Riki, himself on the comeback trail from shoulder surgery, is confident Piakura will get the green light.

“I reckon he will be sweet (to travel to America),” Riki said.

“Brendan is a tough guy and always wants to put his best foot forward for the team.

“We are extremely lucky to have such a professional medical staff at the club and I know they are doing their best to look after him and see what he needs done.

“They did a good job for me in the off-season with my shoulder and I’m keen to get out there, have a run and test the new shoulder out.

“He (Piakura) looks good.”

The Broncos are sweating on Piakura’s availability for the season opener against the Roosters following the sudden off-season departure of Kurt Capewell to the Warriors, which has left a gaping void in Brisbane’s back row.

But Riki is confident of forging a potent alliance with the hard-hitting Piakura, who underlined his class with a two-try haul against the Cowboys headlined by precision line-running.

“’Brendy’ has really stepped up,” Riki said.

“Sadly ‘Capes’ went off to go to the Warriors and the leadership group and ‘Kevvie’ (Walters, coach) sat down with Brendan and said he probably needed to roll his socks up a bit.

“Brendan has hit the ground running (in pre-season).

“He is hitting PBs in the gym and with fitness sessions. He is owning his role and that’s what we need him to do on the edge.

“The first 10 or 15 minutes in that trial, he was very strong, he was killing it.

“I know the medical team will get his knee and get him ready for round 1.”

VEGAS EXODUS OPENS DOOR FOR FORMER WALLABY

The departure of Brisbane’s top squad to the US opens the door for several fringe Broncos to make a statement against Manly, including former Melbourne and Titans outside back Tomane.

Now 34, Tomane played 32 NRL games from 2008-11 before his defection to rugby union, where he played 17 Tests for the Wallabies as a 102kg, 188cm wrecking ball out wide.

Tomane is playing for Brisbane’s feeder club Souths Logan this season and is relishing the chance to wear Broncos colours for the first time in the hope of a shock NRL comeback at Red Hill.

“I briefly met him this morning,” Riki said.

“He is a solid boy and a big dude.

“You wouldn’t want him (running off the back fence) at you, he is a big guy, lovely and very well-spoken.

“I have seen highlights of him playing rugby and it will be good for him to put on the Broncos jumper for us and the club and hopefully one day I can mix it with him and share Suncorp Stadium with him.

“We are excited to have him on board at the club and it will be good to see how he goes this week.

“It’s an awesome opportunity for him to put the Broncos jumper on.”

Joe Tomane, who played for the Brumbies and Wallabies, is back playing rugby league. Picture: Getty Images

Broncos coach Kevin Walters said excitement was brewing with Vegas quickly approaching.

“There’s been a lot of talk around Vegas and going over there,” he said.

“It has been a little bit different. It’ll be great to get over there and start our preparation.

“I like this group. They are really tight and well connected.”

With his top players on ice this weekend, Kevin Walters will hand opportunities to Brisbane’s emerging and fringe players.

Backline utility Tristan Sailor was originally named in the 20-man trial team, but he will instead be flying with the Vegas squad on Thursday.

Burleigh fullback Creedence Toia will start at fullback while Penrith recruit Kurt Falls has been named at halfback.

Emerging stars Blake Mozer (hooker) and Ben Te Kura (prop) have also been named in the trial team after featuring over the past two weeks.

The Broncos were planning to play rising halfback Coby Black against the Sea Eagles.

Coby Black has been banned from playing the trial. Picture: John Gass

Black, 17, is the club’s bright future playmaking prospect, however he has been barred from playing in the NRL-sanctioned trial because he is yet to turn 18.

Walters said it was important the Broncos got the basics right early in the season.

“The opening four or five weeks is about getting our own game nice and simple and effective,” he said.

“That’s what we did last year against good opposition. That’s the plan again this year, to just focus on ourselves, particularly defensively. That’s where we need to make more improvements.

“There’s still a few guys we’re talking about and discussing (for round one).”

Assistant coach Matt Ballin will coach Brisbane in the Manly trial before boarding a plane and joining the rest of the squad in LA.

GOLD COAST TITANS TEAM NEWS

Klese Haas will be given first crack at replacing Queensland star David Fifita after new Gold Coast coach Des Hasler named his best Titans team.

Haas will start in the back row alongside returning Maroons hopeful Beau Fermor in Gold Coast’s final NRL Pre-season Challenge trial against Parramatta on Sunday.

The younger brother of Broncos superstar Payne Haas, Klese made his NRL debut for the Titans in 2022 and has featured 17 times in the top grade.

Now he can cement more first grade appearances with a strong performance against the Eels at North Ipswich Reserve following the Titans’ promising first-up trials loss to the Dolphins last weekend.

NRL PRE-SEASON CHALLENGE ROUND 2 TEAM LISTS

Fifita is expected to miss at least the first four rounds of the 2024 NRL Premiership as he continues his return from a torn pectoral muscle suffered in December.

While Fifita will be missing, Fermor returns from a year on the sidelines against the Eels.

Fermor’s last match was a trial against the Dolphins on February 19 last year before he suffered an horrific knee injury at training which ruled him out of the entire 2023 premiership.

“It’s pretty much 12 months to the day since I last played footy,” Fermor said.

“Hopefully I still remember how to do it.

“I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve been itching to play for six months and hopefully I can hit the ground running and start really well.

Klese Haas in line to replace injured David Fifita in round 1. Picture: Gold Coast Titans.

“It’s been a long 12 months and I want to fast-forward to Sunday because I’m really excited to be back out there.

“The knee has been 100 per cent since before Christmas so I’ve had two months of full training in everything.

With fullback Jayden Campbell (knee) unavailable, rising star Keano Kini will wear the No. 1 jersey for at least the opening month of the season.

Incumbent Maroons fullback AJ Brimson will make his first appearance at centre against Parramatta while Broncos recruit Keenan Palasia has been named in the front row, but could feature at lock instead of captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.

Fermor said he has been training on both sides of the field and wasn’t sure where he would start the season, but his preference was the left as he sets his sights on a Queensland jersey after being invited to the recent Maroons camp by coach Billy Slater.

“I’ve been changing around a bit, I’m not 100 per cent sure what side I’ll be playing yet,” he said.

“We’ll wait and see once Dave’s back and what Des sees fit. I’ve been doing reps on both sides and I’ll play anywhere the team needs me.

“If I had to pick a side I’d like to play on the left but I can play just as well on the right.”

DOLPHINS TEAM NEWS

Dolphins halfback Sean O’Sullivan insists he hasn’t nailed down a round 1 berth as a high-profile Redcliffe recruit fights for a starting spot in Wayne Bennett’s top team.

O’Sullivan will start in the No. 7 jersey when the Dolphins finalise their NRL Pre-season Challenge campaign against the Warriors in Auckland on Saturday.

‘The Wayne Plane’ departed Brisbane for Queenstown on Tuesday, with the Dolphins entering a bonding camp in New Zealand in the lead-up to the Warriors clash.

Bennett will start close to his best 13 in the last trial match, which will see young gun Isaiya Katoa at five-eighth alongside O’Sullivan.

But the playmaking race is far from over, according to O’Sullivan, with Kodi Nikorima and Anthony Milford lurking in the shadows.

“I don’t think anyone has their head in front for any position. There’s competition for spots throughout our team,” he said

“Every player has their own strengths. All three of them are good players with unique qualities.

Sean O'Sullivan.

“Every day determines who’s going to be in that round one team, no matter what position you’re in.”

Compared to their foundation NRL campaign last year, the Dolphins’ depth looks much stronger this season.

So much so that Canterbury livewire Jake Averillo is no certainty to be on the field when the Dolphins launch their 2024 season against the Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium on March 10.

Averillo came off the bench at left centre in last Sunday’s trial against the Titans and had some nice touches.

But the form of Tesi Niu, who was sent to a bootcamp over the summer, has rocketed the former Bronco into the mix for the starting position.

Averillo will wear jersey No. 16 against the Warriors in his final chance to impress Bennett, with Niu and rising winger Jack Bostock starting on the left side and Herbie Farnworth and Jamayne Isaako combining on the right.

Bostock could drop out of the team to accommodate a Niu-Averillo combination on the left and the Warriors trial will play a role in Bennett’s decision.