Pat Carrigan and Brodie Croft to captain Broncos against Cowboys

Injuries to senior players has opened the door for Brisbane to kickstart their 2020 season with new co-captains and an NRL debutant on the bench to face North Queensland.

Patrick Carrigan. The Brisbane Broncos training at Red Hill. Pic Peter Wallis

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Brodie Croft has promised to put his stamp on the Broncos after being thrust the club’s co-captaincy in his first NRL game for Brisbane.

Croft and Patrick Carrigan will lead the Broncos in Friday night’s blockbuster NRL season-opener against the Cowboys at North Queensland’s new stadium in Townsville.

Carrigan, 22, will become the least experienced captain in NRL history when he leads the Broncos in just his 20th first grade appearance.

Croft, 22, played 39 NRL games for Melbourne before being released by the Storm to join Brisbane last December.

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Carrigan has impressed during the pre-season. Photo: Peter Wallis

Croft was elevated to coach Anthony Seibold’s new-look leadership group soon after arriving at Red Hill and captained the Broncos at the NRL Nines last month.

The hardworking halfback has impressed Seibold so much that he will co-captain the Broncos in the absence of injured skipper Alex Glenn (hamstring), despite having never played an NRL game for the club.

Croft will become the 19th player to wear Brisbane’s famous No. 7 jersey since the club’s last NRL premiership win in 2006 and will also have the added pressure of leading the team.

But the Broncos’ new shot-caller said he was ready to put his mark on the club which has been searching for a dominant halfback since Allan Langer retired in 2002.

“I want to stamp my mark on the team,” Croft said.

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Anthony Seibold is putting his faith in his young players. Photo: AAP Image/Glenn Hunt

“It’s a really prestigious club and any time you wear the No. 7 jersey there are going to be expectations and pressure.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead. I know the pressure is there.

“I wouldn’t call myself the saviour. I have a good bunch of boys around me and if we all do our job collectively we are going to do some good things this year which I am excited about.

“There is going to be that pressure and spotlight on me but I don’t read into it too much.

“Seibs sits down and tells me what he wants from my position and the accountability is on me to perform and do what he wants.”

The Broncos will be up against it in the first game of the season against the fired-up Cowboys featuring Valentine Holmes at their new $293 million stadium.

Brisbane will be without key forwards Matt Lodge (knee), Joe Ofahengaue (suspended) and Glenn, opening the door for forward Jamil Hopoate to make his NRL debut.

The son of former NRL bad boy John Hopoate, Jamil will wear jersey No. 17 on an odd bench featuring hooker Andrew McCullough, winger-fullback Jamayne Isaako and prop Rhys Kennedy.

Jesse Arthars will make his club debut. AAP Image/Glenn Hunt.

Titans recruit Jesse Arthars beat Xavier Coates to the right wing berth for his club debut alongside goalkicking centre Kotoni Staggs.

Veteran Darius Boyd will start at left centre but was overlooked for the temporary captaincy duties after being stripped of the role.

Seibold said he was excited to see how his team has changed following last year’s 58-0 finals loss to Parramatta.

“I want to see how much we’ve grown over the pre-season,” he said.

“We’ve done plenty of hard work. The guys certainly put in the hard yards over the pre-season.

“We’ll continue to grow throughout the year. Although we want to start the season very well...there will be a lot of expectation on the Cowboys in the first game at their new stadium.

“There will be a lot of pressure up there. Our job is to try and spoil the party.

“I’m looking forward to the guys going out there and freeing themselves up.”

BRONCOS: 1 Jack Bird, 2 Corey Oates, 3 Kotoni Staggs, 4 Darius Boyd, 5 Jesse Arthars, 6 Anthony Milford, 7 Brodie Croft (c), 8 Tom Flegler, 9 Jake Turpin, 10 Payne Haas, 11 David Fifita, 12 Tevita Pangai Jr, 13 Pat Carrigan, 14 Jamayne Isaako, 15 Andrew McCullough, 16 Rhys Kennedy, 17 Jamil Hopoate, 18 Xavier Coates, 19 Herbie Farnworth, 20 Tom Dearden, 21 Ethan Bullemor.