NRL 2022: Broncos recruit Jordan Pereira bolts into contention for Round 1 wing spot
As the Brisbane Broncos prepare to field a new look side this season, a boom recruit will be given a shot at winning a wing spot for Round 1.
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Broncos recruit Jordan Pereira will have his chance to push for a Round 1 wing spot in the upcoming trial matches after impressing Brisbane’s coaching staff this preseason.
The former Dragon is among a strong list of recruits in line to make their Brisbane debuts for the club’s season opening clash with the Rabbitohs, as the Broncos prepare to field a new look side this season.
Coach Kevin Walters last week revealed nearly every spot in the team is up for grabs ahead of Round 1 and Pereira has thrown his hat in the ring to replace Xavier Coates (Storm) on the right wing.
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After playing 39 games for the Dragons since 2018, Pereira signed with the Broncos last year after chasing a “fresh start” as well as an opportunity to be closer to family in Queensland.
He admitted last year he did not expect to walk into a starting spot at his new club, but his efforts during the pre-season have rocketed him into strong contention for a starting wing spot for Round 1.
He has been training on the right wing during Brisbane’s pre-season training sessions this year and Walters admitted he had been impressed with his efforts since arriving at the club.
“His training has been immaculate,” Walters said last week.
“He’s got a great attitude and he’s really jumped out of the ground for us.
“We knew he was a good player but we didn’t see a lot of him in the NRL last year down at the Dragons.
“From what I’ve seen just in the pre-season, he’s been really, really good.
“He’s got a lot of energy about him and lots of quality about his work as well.”
Pereira faces tough competition from experienced wingers such as Corey Oates, David Mead and Jamayne Isaako for the starting wing spot while young gun Selwyn Cobbo has also been rotated on the edge this pre-season.
The upcoming trial matches will prove crucial in the make up of the Broncos come Round 1, with a clash against Wynnum Manly to kick off on February 12.
The Broncos will also play trial matches against the Titans at Cbus Super Stadium on February 19 before heading to Mackay on February 26 to play the Cowboys.
“The third trial will be the big one against the Cowboys,” Walters said.
“I’m comfortable with our trials and we’ll use that last one as our main one in prep for Round 1.”
Broncos: Walters rates his Rd 1 contenders
— Travis Meyn
Broncos coach Kevin Walters has declared nearly every spot in Brisbane’s Round 1 team is up for grabs.
The Broncos will kick off their pre-season trials campaign in a fortnight with only four positions in their best 17 set in concrete.
Halfback Adam Reynolds, prop Payne Haas, centre Kotoni Staggs and backrower Kurt Capewell are the only players guaranteed certain positions in Brisbane’s team to face the Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium on March 11.
Walters has a number of positional headaches to solve during Brisbane’s three-week trials campaign, starting against Wynnum-Manly on February 12 before matches against the Titans (February 19) and Cowboys (February 26).
“I’m really happy, we’re getting into some good footy stuff now with trials just around the corner,” Walters said.
“We’re seeing some really positive signs from our training habits into that 13 on 13 (match simulation).
“They’re good headaches to have.
“We’ve got some good depth this year, particularly in our outside backs and middle forwards. It’s tough in the middle in the NRL and you need depth all the way back.
“The third trial will be the big one for us against the Cowboys. We will use that last trial as our main one in preparation for round one.”
The Broncos have question marks all over the field but also plenty of options to choose from following two tough seasons.
While Tesi Niu is favoured to start at fullback, Selwyn Cobbo has also trained in the position as well as at centre and on the wing.
The Broncos have a glut of middle forward options with Pat Carrigan returning from injury, Ryan James joining the club, Kobe Hetherington rising last year and Corey Jensen arriving from North Queensland.
Penrith recruit Capewell will start on the edge and the other back-row berth is being fought for between young guns Jordan Riki, TC Robati and Brendan Piakura.
The five-eighth battle between Albert Kelly, Tyson Gamble, Ezra Mam and Billy Walters will be settled during the trials and Walters said Cory Paix is putting pressure on Jake Turpin for the No. 9 duties.
“He certainly is,” Walters said.
“Obviously Turps has got the inside running on the jersey, but Paixy’s been doing some really good stuff at training.
“We saw him in the back end of last year that he’s got good acceleration and speed.
“It’s a battle there. Turps has the inside running but Paixy’s definitely got him in his sights.”
Walters is also undecided on his wing duo to launch the season following Xavier Coates’ move to Melbourne.
Jamayne Isaako, David Mead, Corey Oates and Cobbo featured out wide last season but Dragons recruit Jordan Pereira has bolted into consideration for a Round 1 Broncos debut.
“His training has been immaculate and he’s got a great attitude,” Walters said.
“He’s really jumped out of the ground for us. We knew he was a good player but we didn’t see a lot of him in the NRL last year at the Dragons.
“From what I’ve seen in pre-season he’s been really, really good. There’s lots of energy and quality about him.”
The Broncos trained early at Red Hill on Thursday so the entire team could attend the funeral of Niu’s father, Fanitesi Sr, who died suddenly last week.
“We’re rallying around him and supporting him as best as we can, as a club and mate,” Walters said.
“Tesi’s had a tough week and today’s going to be even tougher for him with his dad’s family.
“We’re all going there in support of him and his family. He’s a great kid and we want to be there for him.”
FARNWORTH LEAVES BRONCOS SWEATING ON NEW DEAL
Broncos centre Herbie Farnworth has paused contract negotiations with Brisbane as the Dolphins entered the frame for the English livewire.
Farnworth is off-contract at season’s end and is being courted by the NRL’s Redcliffe expansion club and former Broncos coach Wayne Bennett for their 2023 launch.
A former junior football gun from England, who was contracted to Premier League giants Manchester United as a 10-year-old, Farnworth came to Australia as a teenager chasing a rugby league career in the NRL and has so far succeeded at Red Hill.
He has played 41 NRL games for the Broncos since debuting in 2019, including 19 and 20 games in each of the past two seasons.
Farnworth, 22, is set to be one of Brisbane’s first-choice centres in 2022 alongside Kotoni Staggs, but his future beyond this year remains uncertain.
The Broncos are undergoing a transformation since coach Kevin Walters took the reins last year and Farnworth is keen to see how the club is tracking before committing to a new deal.
That is why he has hit pause on contract talks until at least the start of the NRL premiership in March, opening the door for the Dolphins to strike.
Broncos football chief Ben Ikin said the club was keen to retain Farnworth but it could be some time before a deal is struck.
“Herbie has been in the system for a while like a lot of the guys in our top 30,” he said.
“The club saw the potential in him early and like anyone that comes out the other end of the academy, he’s done a lot of growing and developing and is starting to realise that potential.
“Those are the types of players you want to keep at the club.
“At this stage the conversation remains ongoing and when Herbie is ready to take it to the next level the club will definitely engage with him.”
The Dolphins have registered interest in Farnworth, who manages his own affairs with the help of his uncle Brian Foley, a former talent spotter for English Super League club Wigan Warriors.
The NRL’s 17th franchise the Dolphins has already secured one Broncos player for 2023, with winger Jamayne Isaako to help launch Queensland’s fourth club.
Farnworth knocked back the highly-successful Melbourne Storm when he was last coming off-contract in 2020 and said he could see the Broncos improving following two tough seasons.
But whether he remains at Brisbane for the long haul remains to be seen.
“I had interest from Melbourne but this is a really good family club,” he said last season.
“We’ve got a good young core group of players coming through. We can definitely go well in the years to come.
“The main focus is to play strong every week rather than just putting one strong performance in and being weak afterwards.
“We’re definitely building and getting better each week.”
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