NRL 2023: Keenan Palasia’s bid to leave the Broncos on a winning note
In less than 12 months Keenan Palasia will leave the Broncos for a hated Queensland rival – but the bullocking forward wants to leave on the best of terms. BRONCOS TEAM NEWS
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Broncos forward Keenan Palasia is ready to put the pain of hospitalisation behind him and chase an NRL premiership farewell with Brisbane before he joins the Titans.
Palasia will make his first playing appearance of the year in Saturday’s NRL Pre-Season Challenge trial against the Cowboys on the Sunshine Coast.
The 26-year-old prop sat out last weekend’s hit out with the Titans as he recovered from an infection which saw him hospitalised earlier this month.
Palasia required surgery and spent close to a week in hospital recovering from the infection, which put a dent in what had been an impressive block of pre-season training.
But he is now back firing and ready to press his claims for a spot in the Broncos’ 17 for their round 1 showdown with reigning premiers Penrith next month.
After an injury-plagued start to his career, Palasia produced his best season as an NRL player in 2022 – punching out 22 matches.
But this season will be Palasia’s last at Red Hill before he heads down the M1 to join Gold Coast on a two-year deal.
A Gold Coast product, Palasia sought an early release over summer, a request denied by coach Kevin Walters who sees the forward utility as a key part of his plans in 2023.
Speaking for the first time about his decision to join the Titans, the former Queensland under-20s prop insists there is no bad blood with the Broncos and he wants to depart Brisbane on good terms by helping the club break a 17-year premiership drought.
“It’s not in my personality to just bum around until I go,” Palasia said.
“I am still a Bronco until the end of the season.
“I have gone into the pre-season with that mentality, so hopefully I can bring a premiership back to Red Hill before I go.”
Palasia has been named in jersey No. 15 for the Cowboys trial, but there is a logjam of middle forwards at the Broncos fighting for a round 1 spot.
Prop Tom Flegler will miss both of Brisbane’s NRL trials after suffering a head knock at training last week, but will almost certainly be included in the team to face the Panthers.
Manly recruit Marty Taupau provided tremendous impact off the bench in last Sunday’s 24-all draw with the Titans and emerging prop Xavier Willison will make his return from a knee injury against North Queensland.
The Broncos have been dealt a blow with gun fullback Reece Walsh to miss the Cowboys trial after suffering a facial fracture against the Titans.
Scans confirm an orbital floor (base of eye socket) fracture for Reece Walsh. Thankfully surgery not required (nil double vision/muscle entrapment, fracture <50% of floor). Can be a relatively quick recovery, Round 1 in 3 weeks time likely still a possibility pic.twitter.com/wi0YHc2Dy1
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) February 13, 2023
Walsh is in doubt for round 1, but Palasia said the Broncos were ready to cover his absence as winger Selwyn Cobbo shifts to fullback.
“We have been going through the pre-season with the next-man mentality,” he said.
“He hasn’t played an official NRL game for the Broncos yet, so it’s not like we haven’t played without him before.
“It will be the same as last year, we had a seven-game winning streak without him so I’m sure we can do that again and when he comes back, it’s a bonus for us.
“I did feel for him because he is one of my good mates he hasn’t played that game yet, but when he does he will take it with both hands and be one of our best players.
“He is a pivotal part of our team. Like he displayed on Sunday night, he was one of our best players, scored a try and had a few good players, we just have to hold the fort until he does come back.
“This game is a measurement of how good we are and how we went through the pre-season. It is another good trial match for everyone to show what we can do and put our name back on the map.”
MAM’S HALVES HEADACHE AS WALSH REPLACEMENT REVEALED
Champion halfback Adam Reynolds is ready to rumble for the Broncos as Tigers playmaking recruit Jock Madden prepares to challenge young gun Ezra Mam in Brisbane’s battle for scrumbase spots.
After sitting out Brisbane’s opening two trials, Reynolds is back in business and will lead the Broncos in Saturday night’s final pre-season trial against the Cowboys at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
The derby trial showdown will represent the start of a revenge mission for Reynolds, who is hellbent on piloting the Broncos to this year’s finals after the pain of Brisbane’s shock collapse in his maiden campaign at Red Hill last season.
Reynolds’ 2022 pre-season was riddled with minor injuries but this time, the 32-year-old has a clean bill of health and is ready to orchestrate Brisbane’s finals fightback – starting against arch rivals the Cowboys.
Reynolds will be joined by 20-year-old Mam at the scrumbase, but Wests Tigers import Madden will get his chance to impress after being named in Brisbane’s extended squad.
Madden has been cleared of a hamstring injury and will share game time with Mam at second receiver as Broncos coach Kevin Walters welcomed the return of his main man Reynolds.
“We didn’t feel there was a need for ‘Reyno’ to play against the Titans (last week),” Walters said.
“A lot of players across the NRL were resting, but this will be a good hit out for Reyno and a good chance to build a combination with the guys heading into round one.”
Brisbane have named a full-strength team for the Cowboys clash headlined by big guns Reynolds, Kurt Capewell, Pat Carrigan and Payne Haas, while Queensland Origin star Corey Oates has been named on the wing.
New recruit Reece Walsh’s eye-socket injury has opened the door for Selwyn Cobbo to start at fullback, with Jesse Arthars to play right wing in a threequarter line featuring centres Kotoni Staggs and Herbie Farnworth.
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After coming off the bench last week, Billy Walters will start at hooker, giving him a golden final chance to unseat Cory Paix for the No. 9 jumper for the premiership opener.
Walters confirmed Madden has overcome a hamstring complaint and is keen to see the former Australian Schoolboys star apply pressure to five-eighth Mam.
“Jock Madden injured his hamstring but he will be right for the Cowboys game,” Walters said.
“The trials are an opportunity for our guys to showcase their skills and push forward as individuals.
“There’s good competition for spots at the Broncos.”
Cowboys coach Todd Payten said he will field his best 17 with the likes of Scott Drinkwater, Valentine Holmes, Tom Dearden, Chad Townsend and Jeremiah Nanai to take on the Broncos.
Payten lauded the impact of 34-year-old prop James Tamou, who has returned to the Cowboys for a swan song and will relish facing the Broncos team he beat in the 2015 grand final.
“James is such a professional,” Payten said. “He has led the team well in pre-season and showed guys how to prepare properly.
“We will roll out our best 20 and rotate the best 17 like an NRL game.
“We will run out our best team.”
SILVER LINING TO BROKEN BRONCO’S FRACTURE
The Broncos have suffered a blow with star fullback recruit Reece Walsh in major doubt for Brisbane’s round-one blockbuster against premiers Penrith after sustaining a facial fracture.
Brisbane’s build-up for the 2023 premiership opener has hit turbulence after Walsh – the Broncos’ prized $1.3 million off-season signing – damaged his eye socket in last Sunday’s 24-all trial deadlock with the Titans.
In his first game back in Broncos colours, Walsh was in sizzling touch, scoring a try and terrorising the Titans with six tackle busts and two line breaks before coming off in the 54th minute with what appeared to be a minor head knock.
But scans later confirmed a fracture to the orbital floor of Walsh’s left eye, ruling him out of Saturday’s final pre-season hitout against the Cowboys and leaving him racing the clock for the Round 1 Panthers clash on Friday, March 3.
The Broncos are banking on Walsh’s backline brilliance to spearhead a road-trip upset of two-time premiers Penrith and his potential scratching would be a huge blow to their chances of starting the 2023 premiership on a winning note.
It could be the second consecutive year the Broncos have lost their No. 1 import for the season opener after skipper Adam Reynolds missed last year’s launch against Souths due to Covid.
The good news is Walsh will not require surgery, but the rehabilitation period is between three to four weeks, plunging Broncos coach Kevin Walters into a nervous wait over his matchwinning fullback.
“Reece had a CT scan which confirmed a fracture to his eye’s orbital floor with no surgery required,” Broncos high-performance chief Dave Ballard said.
“Reece’s recovery will be monitored in the weeks ahead before a decision is made on his availability for the opening round of the competition.”
Scans confirm an orbital floor (base of eye socket) fracture for Reece Walsh. Thankfully surgery not required (nil double vision/muscle entrapment, fracture <50% of floor). Can be a relatively quick recovery, Round 1 in 3 weeks time likely still a possibility pic.twitter.com/wi0YHc2Dy1
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) February 13, 2023
Leading Brisbane-based physiotherapist Brien Seeney, who runs the popular NRL Physio social-media account, gave Broncos fans hope of Walsh returning in time for the season opener at Penrith’s BlueBet Stadium.
“He’s a good chance to be available in round one or two,” Seeney said.
“Provided there’s no indications for surgery, no double vision, no muscle entrapment – and the fracture is less than half of the orbital floor – most NRL players are back in 3-4 weeks.”
The scan results came as a shock to Walsh.
Straight after the Titans trial draw, Walsh only had a minor mark under his left eye as he dismissed concerns about a major injury, saying: “It was my cheek, I copped a bit of a knock, but I feel OK.”
Should Walsh be unavailable for the Panthers clash, Queensland Origin star Selwyn Cobbo and British Test utility Herbie Farnworth will come into contention for the No. 1 jumper.
Slick and stylish against the Titans, Walsh has hit the ground running at Red Hill and says he already feels at home in the Broncos’ backfield.
“I was a bit nervous before the game but once the game kicked-off, the nerves went away and I went into footy mode. It was good,” Walsh said.
“I tried not to do anything fancy and I felt that’s what I did.
“For the first hit out of the year, it was a good game from me.
“I always want to come out and have a good year. I feel like if I get my job right and focus on my game, the rest will take care of itself.”
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