NRL 2023: Payne Haas, Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam among five stars rested by Broncos

Broncos coach Kevin Walters is set to rest five star players for Thursday night’s blockbuster against the Storm despite the minor premiership being on the line.

Kotoni Staggs.

Broncos coach Kevin Walters is set to risk the minor premiership by resting his Fab Five, including superstar Reece Walsh, for Thursday night’s blockbuster against Melbourne.

Vying for the minor premiership with Penrith, Walters will not select Walsh, Payne Haas, Selwyn Cobbo, Ezra Mam and Herbie Farnworth for the final regular-season clash with the Storm at Suncorp Stadium.

The Broncos and Storm are saving their bullets for the finals, with Melbourne to also rest five stars, meaning more than $5 million worth of topline talent will be onlookers for the Suncorp showdown.

The Broncos will also be without suspended Kotoni Staggs and injured duo Adam Reynolds and Pat Carrigan, leaving Brisbane to face their Storm nemesis without eight NRL regulars.

It is a major blow to Brisbane’s hopes of winning their first minor premiership in 23 years, but Walters is prepared to concede the JJ Giltinan Shield in pursuit of the ultimate prize – the Broncos’ first title since 2006.

The Melbourne Storm are set to wrap a host of big names in cotton wool, including Cameron Munster and Harry Grant, for the Broncos clash and that has convinced Walters to follow suit.

Reece Walsh is among five Broncos rested for the final round. Picture: Getty

Just a fortnight ago, Walters declared he would not rest his stars in the run to the finals, but with the business end of the season now right before him, the Broncos coach is taking a strategic approach.

There are two scenarios looming for the depleted Broncos.

If they finish first, they will host the Storm in back-to-back clashes at Suncorp Stadium in the opening week of the finals.

Should they slip to second, the Broncos will host the Warriors, on the proviso the New Zealand outfit disposes of the Dolphins, as expected, in their final game at Suncorp on Saturday afternoon.

Either way, Walters is playing safety first and wants to ensure big guns do not suffer injury or a potential HIAs against a Melbourne side they haven’t beaten in 14 years on home soil.

The Broncos enter the final round on 42 competition points, one win ahead of second placed Penrith (40), whose differential (+301) is superior to that of Brisbane (+224).

Mam has battled a knee injury recently – he had strapping in last week’s win over Canberra – and the boom five-eighth would benefit from a break on the eve of the playoffs.

Payne Haas suffered a dislocated finger against Canberra. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty

Little-known rookie Josh Rogers is one option to partner halfback Jock Madden at the scrumbase against an equally depleted Storm side that won’t have Munster and Jahrome Hughes (knee) on deck.

Skipper Reynolds on Monday confirmed his absence for the crucial match against the Storm but is adamant he will not miss Brisbane’s first finals game the week after at Suncorp Stadium.

Reynolds, who is battling a calf injury, said he could have played in Thursday’s match had he pushed things.

“The calf is feeling really good,” Reynolds said at Suncorp Stadium during a promotion for this year’s Australian PGA golf tournament.

“It is a bit of a quick turnaround. I will do some running today. I won’t be playing Thursday. I could potentially play this weekend and push it but the risk is too great for where we are at the moment.

“The coaching staff are pretty keen to rest me and get refreshed for the semis.’’

Not what you want to see heading into the finals.

Kotoni Staggs might be seeing some time on the sideline for this late effort on Jordan Rapana. pic.twitter.com/fg0I7ysANl

— Fox League (@FOXNRL) August 26, 2023

Staggs was in brutal touch against the Raiders and the Broncos will sorely miss his tackle-busting brilliance against a Storm side that has a major psychological edge over Brisbane.

The Broncos have not beaten Melbourne at Suncorp since 2009 – a whopping 5277-day drought in Brisbane – and have won just two of their past 25 clashes with Craig Bellamy’s Storm juggernaut.

The silver lining for the Broncos is they are safe in the top two and not even a loss to the Storm without their Big Three will deny them a home semi-final at Suncorp in the opening week of the finals.

Ironically, that home final could be back-to-back meetings with the Storm in what shapes as the ultimate booby prize for the Broncos.

Kotoni Staggs lands a forearm on Jordan Rapana.

In the absence of Walsh, Tristan Sailor is a capable Plan B – he made a brilliant Broncos debut against the Warriors in round 13 – while Deine Mariner, Brisbane’s fastest player, is likely to replace the suspended Staggs at centre.

That scenario would enable Mr Reliable Jesse Arthars to fill the void left by Cobbo on the right wing.

Underlining Brisbane’s impressive depth, Keenan Palasia, Kobe Hetherington, Corey Jensen and Tom Flegler are middle-forward options to cover for Haas and Carrigan.

Former Broncos skipper Corey Parker believes the Storm clash will be a litmus test of Brisbane’s premiership bona fides this season.

Adam Reynolds will return for week one of the finals. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“The last time they beat Melbourne at Suncorp was in (2009), so it’s quite a lengthy time,” he said.

“A lot of the Melbourne players are Queenslanders who love playing at Suncorp, but styles beat teams sometimes and the Storm have a style that has been able to dismantle the Broncos.

“The Broncos we see at the moment are different to what we have seen in recent years.

“Do they have enough to go through and beat the Storm? We’ll see. Are Reynolds and Pat Carrigan going to be there? Unlikely.

“The Broncos get you out of your seat, it’s terrific to watch, but that style won’t hold up when you come up against the rock solid teams like Penrith and Melbourne.

“You need stability and someone to pull in the reins.”