NRL Casualty Ward: Jock Madden injury and Origin selections force changes for Broncos

The injury-ravaged Broncos face taking on the Dragons in round 19 without a staggering 13 players as injuries and Origin cause havoc at Red Hill.

Jock Madden leaves the field on crutches after suffering a hamstring injury against the Panthers. Picture: NRL Imagery

Brisbane are set to turn to Josh Rogers and unknown rookie prop Va’a Semu as the injury-ravaged Broncos face taking on the Dragons this Saturday night without a staggering 13 players.

Brisbane’s injury crisis continued on Friday night when back-up halfback Jock Madden tore his hamstring in the Broncos’ gallant 14-6 loss to Penrith in the grand-final replay at Suncorp Stadium.

Madden faces a month on the sidelines, joining a casualty ward that includes Adam Reynolds, Fletcher Baker, Jaiyden Hunt, Ben Te Kura, Jack Gosiewski, Jordan Pereira, Delouise Hoeter and teenage playmaker Coby Black.

Rookie prop Va'a Semu (R) pictured with Kevin Walters.

Missing three halfbacks, the Broncos are also set to lose another four big guns - Carrigan, Payne Haas, Reece Walsh and Selwyn Cobbo - to Origin duty for the Suncorp decider on Wednesday week.

Rogers is the last-man standing in the halves to partner Ezra Mam, while monster forward Semu could make a shock NRL debut _ just months after being handed a Broncos development contract.

Such is the gravity of Brisbane’s injury saga, coach Kevin Walters will have to step outside the club’s top 30 full-time roster to promote Rogers and, potentially, Semu.

At 194cm and 110kg, Semu is similar in stature to Broncos superstar Payne Haas and is being considered for a bench spot after impressing Walters with 13 games in his rookie year at feeder club Souths Logan.

Semu was not expected to feature this year, but with Brisbane to be without seven forwards for the Dragons clash, the Magpies tyro could be in line for a stunning NRL baptism against the Red V.

Broncos expect Jock Madden to miss “a month or longer” after he suffered a hamstring injury.

Top end sprinting mechanism & significantly limited his function post injury - never ideal signs. Even a moderate strain (likely best case) would usually result in a 4-6 week recovery. pic.twitter.com/efH8UVAWO4

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) July 5, 2024

The one certainty is Rogers is back in Broncos colours, with the 28-year-old impressing in his only game of the 2024 season so far against Parramatta in round 10.

Rogers and Mam steered the Broncos to a 30-14 rout of the Eels at CommBank Stadium and Walters is backing the late-blooming Perth-born playmaker to snap a five-match losing streak against the Dragons.

“Josh has the bye this week (in the Queensland Cup), so that’s good, he will be ready to go next Saturday against the Dragons,” Walters said.

“Josh was outstanding last time, it’s unfortunate for Jock, but good for Josh to get another crack at this level.”

“We have to go outside the top 30 now, we could lose four guys to Origin.”

In a boost for the Broncos, back-rower Jordan Riki will return from suspension, while strike centre Kotoni Staggs will play after missing the Panthers clash for personal reasons.

Towering prop Xavier Willison is set to partner Corey Jensen in the front row, with Martin Taupau and rising star Semu middle-forward options on the bench.

“We get Riki back next week from suspension and Kotoni will be back to take on the Dragons, so we will have enough jerseys (to pick a 17-man team),” Walters said.

In the backline, Tristan Sailor will replace Reece Walsh in the No.1 jumper, while Corey Oates, Staggs, Deine Mariner and Jesse Arthars will form the threequarter line.

The Broncos could finish the weekend as low as 12th with a 7-9 record, but stand-in skipper Pat Carrigan is adamant Brisbane’s title campaign is not over.

“It is a bit frustrating but it’s part and parcel of the game,” Carrigan said.

“We’re not here to feel sorry for ourselves, the quality of work we have been doing at training is there and I am a big believer in the harder you work, the luckier you get.

“I know it will turn for us, it’s just a couple of key moments.

“Defensively, we took a huge step forward (against Penrith), but it’s next-man up.

“We will band together and get the job done.”