NRL 2022: 10 reasons for Brisbane Broncos fans to get excited — including Payne Haas and Kotoni Staggs back for round one
Star Brisbane Broncos players Payne Haas and Kotoni Staggs both went down with serious injuries late last season.
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The Broncos’ pre-season officially kicked off last week as they embark on their ambitious aim of making the 2022 NRL finals — and there is growing anticipation among fans already.
From the young guns to the old champions, next year’s Broncos side has plenty going for it — even prompting football boss Ben Ikin to admit a finals berth is a real possibility.
So Broncos fans, here are 10 reasons why you should be excited for 2022.
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1. Big Guns
Kotoni Staggs and Payne Haas are firing on all cylinders in preparation for the start of the season. Staggs has recovered from a knee injury suffered midway through the 2021 season and is primed for round one. Meanwhile, Haas has recovered well from an ankle injury he copped in the final game of the season. It means the Broncos are close to full strength for round one.
2. Young Guns
If you tuned into the Intrust Super Cup last season, you would know just how talented Selwyn Cobbo and Ezra Mam really are and how much firepower they now add to Brisbane’s arsenal. Both have secured long-term deals to stay at Red Hill and have been earmarked as future NRL talents. The “Latrell-Mitchell-esque” Cobbo, who looks the goods at fullback or in the outside backs, adds a real strike to the Broncos, while playmaker Mam has shown how cool under pressure he can be when he scored a hat trick on debut for Souths Logan in the ISC last season.
3. The Draw
A South Sydney season opener at Suncorp Stadium. Three out of their four opening games at home. A Sunday afternoon Queensland derby with the Cowboys. What’s not to love about the 2022 season draw for a Broncos fan? It’s a handy draw to start the year and if the Broncos are able to find some wins early, it’s sure to set up a much better season than the previous two.
4. The New Recruits
Brisbane has been busy in the off-season, signing some quality players to steer the club out of the NRL doldrums. Adam Reynolds and Kurt Capewell are fresh off playing in the grand final and add plenty of big game experience to an inexperienced playing group. Their presence alone has already created a buzz around Red Hill for some of the younger players. Meanwhile, Ryan James adds plenty of off-field experience in preparing for games.
5. The Coach
The coach has publicly come out to say finals footy isn’t just a hope but an expectation in 2022. That kind of statement is sure to fire up his troops next season. Kevvie is also entering his second season at the helm and with that added year of experience comes learnings of what to do and what not to do. The added excitement for Walters is the fact he gets to coach his son Billy in first grade and we’ve seen what the Cleary father-and-son combination did for the Panthers last year …
6. The Football Boss
The new football boss Ben Ikin has proven a huge influence on the club already, having banged things into shape at Red Hill in the past six months. His expertise has helped snare the likes of Reynolds, Capewell and James as the club looks to put the past two years behind them. Ikin has had his chance to find his feet as head of football and devote more time and attention to bettering the playing group.
7. The Hardened Conditioner
While the background appointments, such as Ikin, have been sorted out, the Broncos have also looked to change personnel on field as well. Mark “Chopper” Burgess has been brought in as part of the club’s conditioning staff to give the players a harder edge come 2022. What can be more exciting than a fitter, stronger Payne Haas? Former Queenslander Matt Ballin has also been added to the coaching staff in a development role in a fresh mentoring group for the Broncos.
8. Dolphins motivation
The introduction of the Dolphins in 2023 has not only sparked an exciting new River City rivalry, but it will no doubt be a source of motivation for next year’s Broncos who will want to make sure they are ready to dominate once the new team arrives. While internal competition for spots at a club makes for better players, so does a bit of external competition coming in the form of a new club right in your own backyard.
9. NRLW is back
The women are finally back in action and with the NRLW season kicking off in February, there’s not long to wait for a Broncos fan to sit back and enjoy the footy again. The Broncos NRLW side are going for an incredible four straight premierships but face more competition, a longer season plus a semi finals round on their way to achieve that. They’ve also signed some exciting young talents for next season along with a core group of the premiership-winning force, including captain Ali Brigginshaw.
10. Cash to spend
The Broncos roster is coming together nicely but there are still a couple of spots in their top 30 yet to fill.
Ikin admitted a fortnight ago the club had “cash to spend” to fill those last spots if needs be, which opens the door for another big-name signing or the promotion of an exciting young rookie into the main squad.
With the likes of Anthony Milford and Matt Lodge leaving for other clubs, the Broncos now have some wriggle room when it comes to the negotiating table.
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