NRL 2023: Brisbane Broncos missing 11 starters against Storm; Blake Mozer, Josh Rogers to debut

Broncos coach Kevin Walters will finally unveil the ‘next Cameron Smith’, with only two regular starters selected to play against the Storm. See every change here.

Josh Rogers could make his Broncos debut on Thursday. Picture: Liam Kidston

Broncos coach Kevin Walters will blood one of Brisbane’s promising prospects when boom hooker Blake Mozer makes his NRL debut in Thursday night’s clash against the Storm.

Walters has wrapped his stars in cotton wool for the finals, standing down 11 top-liners, including superstar fullback Reece Walsh, for Brisbane’s final regular-season game against Melbourne at Suncorp Stadium.

That has opened the door for Brisbane’s Generation Next, with hooking sensation Mozer and little-known five-eighth Josh Rogers to be thrown into the furnace for their NRL baptisms.

A late bloomer, Rogers makes his top-grade debut at age 27, is the first Perth-born product to represent Brisbane and is tasked with steering the Broncos to the minor premiership in the No.6 jumper made famous by Wally Lewis and Darren Lockyer.

But all eyes will also be on the highly-rated Mozer, the two-time Queensland under-19s rake who has been compared in style to Melbourne hooking legend Cameron Smith.

While Mozer has a long way to go to emulate Smith, Walters has huge wraps on the 19-year-old and will blood him off the bench as Brisbane’s No.14 super sub supporting starting hooker Tyson Smoothy.

Josh Rogers (L) and Blake Mozer (R) will make their debuts.

Walters is taking no risks on the eve of the finals, resting Walsh, Billy Walters, Payne Haas, Kurt Capewell, Kobe Hetherington, Ezra Mam, Selwyn Cobbo and Herbie Farnworth.

Strike centre Kotoni Staggs is suspended, while skipper Adam Reynolds (calf) and star lock Pat Carrigan (foot) will be given another week off in their battle to be fit for the finals.

Originally trumpeted as a last-round blockbuster, the Broncos-Storm clash has lost its lustre with an estimated 14 first-graders to be spectators, including Melbourne trio Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Jahrome Hughes.

The Broncos could risk losing the minor premiership if they fall to the Storm with a sub-standard side.

Just a fortnight ago, Walters declared he would not rest his stars in the run to the finals, but with the business end of the season arriving and the stakes rising, the Broncos coach is taking a strategic approach.

There are two scenarios looming for the depleted Broncos.

If Walters’ troops finish the regular season as minor premiers, Brisbane will again host the Storm in back-to-back clashes at Suncorp Stadium in the opening week of the finals.

Should they slip to second, the Broncos will host the Warriors, on the proviso the New Zealand outfit disposes of the Dolphins, as expected, in their final game at Suncorp on Saturday afternoon.

Either way, Walters is playing safety first and wants to ensure his big guns do not suffer injury or a potential HIA against a Melbourne side they haven’t beaten in 14 years on home soil.

Underlining his talent, Mozer did the 2022 pre-season with the Broncos aged just 17 and immediately caught the eye of skipper Reynolds.

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Standing 183cm, the same height as Smith, Mozer has played 18 Queensland Cup games this season and former Queensland Origin lock Scott Sattler believes the Maroons under-19s rake will become an NRL superstar.

“I’m really excited about this Broncos number nine in Blake Mozer,” Sattler told Radio SEN earlier this season.

“We all keep talking about Corey Paix and Billy Walters.

“Blake Mozer is the kid - he could become another Cameron Smith.

“He is a pretty special talent.

“Playing against men this season (in the Queensland Cup) will be good for his development.”

Walters backed the Broncos’ ‘Renegades’ - the term used for Brisbane’s fringe players - to hold their own against the Storm.

Thomas Flegler will captain the side. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty

“We have named a team this week to make sure that we are properly prepared for the finals series,” he said.

“We have worked hard to get into this position, and that allows us to make sure our players are fit and fresh for that opening final at home at Suncorp Stadium.

“We are also rewarding a number of our squad members with a taste of NRL footy for their good form and for their contribution to the success of the team so far in 2023.

“It takes a whole squad to be successful and this is one way of thanking everyone for that.

“It will be a great opportunity for our fans to get a good look at the next crop of talent coming through at the Broncos in players like Blake Mozer, Josh Rogers, Xavier Willison and Tristan Sailor.”

Amid the raft of changes, Tom Flegler will captain the Broncos for the first time in a huge honour for the Queensland Origin prop, who will join the Dolphins next season.

The speedy Sailor will replace Walsh at fullback and has impressed in three NRL games this season, while Rogers gets his big break after six patient seasons and 86 games of service in the Queensland Cup.

Wynnum Manly ace Rogers is the Queensland Cup’s leading pointscorer this season with 241 and the Broncos are confident the West Australian can help clinch Brisbane’s first minor premiership in 23 years.

“Josh is a very solid playmaker with a great kicking and passing game,” Broncos recruitment boss Simon Scanlan said.

“He is very solid, he will just do his job. He will get the side around the park, pass where it needs to go and kick well. He is a calming influence on the players around him.

“It’s a glimpse of the future for our young players, but also a look behind the curtain at what players sit behind the NRL team that you don’t normally see.

“These guys are training with our top squad every day and fighting for an NRL career themselves.

“It will be very interesting to see how our young Broncos guys go in a game like this.”

In the absence of Walsh, Tristan Sailor is a capable Plan B - he made a brilliant Broncos debut against the Warriors in round 13 - while Deine Mariner, Brisbane’s fastest player, replaces the suspended Staggs at centre.

Mr Reliable Jesse Arthars fills the other centre position, while veteran Jordan replaces Cobbo on the wing.

Underlining Brisbane’s impressive depth, Keenan Palasia, Corey Jensen and Tom Flegler are middle-forward options to cover for Haas and Carrigan.

Parker believes the Storm clash will be a litmus test of Brisbane’s premiership bona fides this season.

“The last time they beat Melbourne at Suncorp was in (2009), so it’s quite a lengthy time,” he said.

“A lot of the Melbourne players are Queenslanders who love playing at Suncorp, but styles beat teams sometimes and the Storm have a style that has been able to dismantle the Broncos. The Broncos we see at the moment is different to what we have seen in recent years.

“Do they have enough to go through and beat the Storm? We’ll see. Are Reynolds and Pat Carrigan going to be there? Unlikely.

“The Broncos get you out of your seat, it’s terrific to watch, but that style won’t hold up when you come up against the rock solid teams like Penrith and Melbourne.

“You need stability and someone to pull in the reins.”

Originally published as NRL 2023: Brisbane Broncos missing 11 starters against Storm; Blake Mozer, Josh Rogers to debut