Broncos beat Titans to sign highly rated teen fullback Tesi Niu
Brisbane have fended off interest from NRL rivals to secure the signature of a player some at the club are calling the Broncos’ most exciting fullback talent since Darren Lockyer.
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Boom teenager Tesi Niu has pledged his future to the Broncos with Brisbane staving off a Titans poaching raid to secure the club’s best fullback talent since Darren Lockyer.
The Sunday Mail can reveal Niu has advised Brisbane he is staying at Red Hill with his management to formally ink a contract extension in the next fortnight.
Niu (pronounced ‘New’) is off-contract at season’s end and has attracted interest from several NRL rivals including the Titans, whose culture chief Mal Meninga was keen to lure the 18-year-old to the Gold Coast.
Meninga, also the Australia Kangaroos coach, rates Niu so highly he offered the quick-stepping fullback dynamo the carrot of an immediate NRL debut at the Titans.
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The Gold Coast’s overtures came just a month after the Warriors sounded out the Broncos on the prospect of Niu joining the club on loan this year to help the New Zealand club through the coronavirus pandemic.
That request was swiftly rejected — and the Broncos have wasted no time tabling an upgrade that will see Niu sign a two or three-year extension.
The development is a significant retention coup for the Broncos, who have yet to hand Niu his first-grade debut, but believe the backline whiz can one day be an NRL superstar.
Niu was originally ineligible to play first grade this year until July 1 because he is on a rookie contract, but the NRL has relaxed that rule in the wake of the COVID-19 saga.
Broncos coach Anthony Seibold says Niu is one of the best trainers he has seen in 15 years of coaching and is keen to blood the schoolboy star in the NRL at some stage this season.
“Tesi is a wonderful athlete, he has a huge future at our club,” Seibold said.
“Because of the coronavirus, the development list players are available to play now, they don’t have to wait until the June 30 date passes so Tesi is eligible to play.
“Tesi will make his NRL debut sooner rather than later.
“I haven’t decided the exact game yet but I’m keen to see him in the NRL and how he handles it.”
At Broncos training last Tuesday, Niu, who is 177cm and 90kg, underlined his class.
Taking the ball in an opposed session against the Broncos’ top squad, Niu flashed past centre Kotoni Staggs, leaving him sprawling on the turf as he touched down, triggering mass applause from Brisbane players.
Such is his talent, Tongan players called for his Test selection last year. Niu made his international debut at 18 years and 76 days, impressing in Tonga’s epic 14-6 upset of Great Britain in Waikato.
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Niu also starred for the Queensland under-18s last year, scoring two tries, including a spectacular 90m solo effort, in a 34-12 demolition of the Blues.
The Logan product attended Marsden State High — the school which produced Cam Smith and Israel Folau — and is likened in style to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck with his balance, speed and footwork.
Broncos insiders believe Niu is so good that once he appears in the NRL, he will stay there.
“Tesi is a very humble young man,” Seibold said.
“He has a great support network of family and is close to David Fifita (his first cousin) at our club.”
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