James Segeyaro to play No.14 for Broncos behind Jake Turpin

Brisbane legend Darren Lockyer says new recruit James Segeyaro will play a crucial role for the Broncos this season – and it’s not going to be in the No.9 jersey.

NRL - Round 1 Toyota Cup U20's Brisbane Broncos VS North Queensland Cowboys from Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. James Segeyaro.

Brisbane recruitment-and-retention panellist Darren Lockyer believes James Segeyaro can be a match-winning super-sub after receiving a lifeline from the Broncos.

The former Sharks rake has linked with the Broncos for the rest of the season after a knee injury to first-choice hooker Andrew McCullough opened the door for Segeyaro’s shock switch to Red Hill.

The 28-year-old PNG international is expected to start with Brisbane on Monday and could make his Broncos debut in their daunting clash with premiers the Roosters at Suncorp Stadium next Friday night.

James Segeyaro in action against the Broncos in 2017. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

With McCullough set to miss six to eight weeks, Broncos coach Anthony Seibold was desperate for some dummy-half spark and has secured Segeyaro on a cut-price deal.

The departure of Kodi Nikorima to the Warriors, whom he makes his debut for tomorrow night at Suncorp Stadium, convinced the Broncos to scour the market for an experienced player with game-breaking instincts.

A veteran of 141 NRL games, Segeyaro is one of the most explosive hookers in the game and Lockyer believes he can ignite the Broncos with his attacking punch.

“He can be a bit of a super-sub,” said Lockyer, part of the Broncos’ recruitment-and-retention committee which secured Segeyaro.

“It’s important for your No.14 to not only have that versatility but is also someone who can provide a bit of spark out of dummy-half.

“With Macca’s injury, that threw a spanner in the works and we needed some experience to help Jake Turpin.

“He has only signed for the rest of this year. Because of Kodi leaving, we had to replace someone before June 30 to have a full complement of 30 players on our full-time roster.

“Segeyaro has joined on minimum wage so we’ll see what he has to offer.”

Segeyaro playing for the Cowboys U-20s in 2010.

A one-time Cowboys No.9, Segeyaro has been playing for the Newtown Jets in NSW’s Canterbury Cup, but will view the move to the Broncos as a chance to reprise the form that won him the 2014 Dally M hooker of the year award.

Lockyer said Segeyaro’s signing was rubber-stamped by Broncos coach Seibold.

“Anthony Seibold has worked with James before and has a high opinion of him so that helped get the deal across the line,” he said.

“James is the type of hooker who likes to run the footy, he’s very explosive and he is someone we don’t have in the squad at the moment.

“Kodi was someone who could have filled that void on the bench but he wanted to be a starting halfback and with his departure, we needed someone on the roster who could be that game breaker off the bench.

“We’ve got younger guys in our squad like Tanah Boyd and Cory Paix, but I don’t think they are ready yet to play a hooking role at NRL level.

“He will join us ASAP and we’ll decide if he plays next week against the Roosters.”