Xavier Willison bringing power and punch to the Broncos from the bench

When the Broncos need some impact off the bench they call on the hulking frame of Xavier Willison, and such is the power of the towering enforcer that he’s drawing comparisons with the most feared forward in the game.

Xavier Willison has been hailed as Brisbane’s version of Melbourne monster Nelson Asofa-Solomona who can help Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan power the Broncos to a premiership this season.

As Willison prepares for a litmus test against Canberra’s rugged pack on Saturday night, former Origin duo Matty Johns and Corey Parker believe the athletic young gun is the X-factor in Brisbane’s title assault.

Haas and Carrigan made a formidable first-up statement as a front-row pairing in last week’s 50-14 rout of the Roosters, but Willison’s interchange injection was equally critical in the nine-try mauling.

The Cook Islands international charged for 145 metres from 13 runs and complemented his powerful midfield incursions with 18 tackles in a 37-minute cameo supporting Haas and Carrigan.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 06: Xavier Willison of the Broncos is tackled during the round one NRL match between Sydney Roosters and Brisbane Broncos at Allianz Stadium on March 06, 2025, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) *** BESTPIX ***

Four-time premiers Penrith have shown that interchange thrust is vital to title success and Johns, a Newcastle premiership legend, says the Broncos have an underrated weapon in Willison.

Johns insists the 199cm tearaway can bring to the Broncos what Asofa-Solomona, nicknamed ‘NAS’, provides Melbourne with his massive 201cm and 130kg frame.

“Xavier Willison, the young bloke coming off the bench, looks really good,” said Fox Sports analyst Johns, who helped engineer Newcastle’s maiden premiership in 1997.

“There is a feeling of Nelson Asofa-Solomona about Willison coming off the bench with impact and Payne Haas has elevated himself to another level.

“There is nothing ‘tinny’ (lucky) about the Broncos. They have been very calculated in what they have done (with their forward rotation).”

He may have athletic gifts but Willison’s work ethic is undeniable.

Xavier Willison is hard to hold out near the line

Such is his desire to succeed, the Waikato whiz has been known to weigh his food, leaving no dietary stone unturned in his quest for excellence.

After Brisbane’s failed campaign last year, Willison, wanting to get better, took up extra sessions of boxing with Gold Coast-based trainer Fidel Tukel to improve his conditioning under the Michael Maguire regime at Red Hill.

Still only 22, Willison plays his 32nd NRL game in Canberra on Saturday night, his development forged by adversity after fighting back from two knee reconstructions.

As a kid, the Kiwi idolised Sonny Bill Williams and wanted to play for the All Blacks. But when Broncos recruitment chief Simon Scanlan spotted Willison as a 15-year-old, Brisbane pulled off a trans-Tasman development coup.

“Growing up, I was mostly a union boy in New Zealand,” Willison recalled with this masthead.

“The Broncos actually brought me over, but I liked Sonny Bill.

“Sonny Bill was probably my idol. I liked his defence, his hits and also his offloads.

“That (playing for the All Blacks) was my dream.

Xavier Willison sweats it out during pre-season training with the Broncos at Red Hill. Picture: Adam Head

“I wanted to be an All Black.

“Payne has been a really good mentor for me, I’m slowly learning off him and he’s teaching me as I go.”

Willison recently inked an extension until the end of 2027 and former Broncos skipper Parker believes the Maori All Stars prop can help Brisbane to their first premiership since 2006.

“I really like Xavier Willison, I think he can be a superstar in the front row,” Parker said.

“I rate him massively.

“He is a huge body and there’s not many players in the game built like him.

“Paul Green (former Cowboys coach) always liked his forwards with different builds because you have different tackle points and Xavier brings that to the Broncos side.

“Athletically, he is very gifted.

“He is still learning and he is raw, but the way the game is going, the speed makes it difficult for big guys who don’t have mobility.

“Xavier has mobility.

“I think he will start eventually with Payne Haas.

“The thing Brisbane have got now is they have a stepping process for their young forwards.

“When I came through the system, I learnt from guys like Shane Webcke and Andrew Gee.

“Now Brisbane are providing that with Payne and Patty Carrigan. Xavier can learn from those guys. He is serving a nice apprenticeship.”

Originally published as Xavier Willison bringing power and punch to the Broncos from the bench