NRL 2024: Jesse Arthars returns from injury as Broncos implement old Wayne Bennett training tactic

The Broncos welcome back one of their injured stars as coach Kevin Walters implements an old Wayne Bennett ploy to stop his side’s three-game skid.

Coach Kevin Walters. Picture: Liam Kidston

The Broncos had D Day - Defence Day - on Monday as they tried to put the bite back in their faltering premiership bid.

Defence was the main priority of a session which featured underrated winger Jesse Arthars, 25, who appears likely to return against the Warriors on Saturday after six weeks off with a fractured jaw.

Arthars is far from the highest profile Broncos but when the team is playing well he is often one of its key spark plugs so the team was pleased to see him back.

“Jesse is a really good inclusion,’’ said forward Kobe Hetherington.

“His back field carries and he is one tough bugger too. It is a big thing for us forwards, players one, two and three. Just getting out of your own half. Jesse is one of the best at doing that he is going to be a massive inclusion.’’

The Broncos have lost three matches in succession and coach Kevin Walters adopted the mantra of his former mentor Wayne Bennett in fixing things from the back of the field first.

Jesse Arthars is set to return from a fractured jaw. Picture: Izhar Khan/Getty Images

The Broncos form has been a downward spiral of wasteful errors followed by increased defence followed by fatigue and more errors.

“We just haven’t had the ball,’’ Hetherington said.

“We are doing too much defence to be honest. When you defend a lot you don’t have much energy in attack. If we could hold the ball ...

“It was defence day. We worked on our defence and line speed and energy.’’

State of Origin reserve Brendan Piakura is back with the Broncos after being dropped from the Origin squad.

It was a deliberate ploy by the selectors in giving him a taste of camp life in the expectation he will be a starting player of the not too distant future.

Coach Kevin Walters focused on defence at Brisbane’s Monday training session. Picture: Liam Kidston

Piakura said he was impressed by the detailed nature of Queensland coach Billy Slater’s approach to the game.

Bookmakers have a two-toned approach to the Broncos mid-season slump.

The fact they have been posted only a warm $1.60 favourite to beat the Warriors is a sign they are still considered vulnerable, especially since the Warriors lost 66-6 to the Titans on the weekend.

But the Broncos premiership odds of $7 say the bookmakers still feel that with a full strength side Brisbane could have late season run.