NRL 2022: Broncos risk falling behind in secret signing war for Queensland’s top youngsters

Brisbane’s spectacular NRL fadeout could have a huge impact on a secret signing war being waged for Queensland’s top youngsters, writes ROBERT CRADDOCK.

Payne Haas and the Broncos dejected. Picture NRL Photos

The Brisbane Broncos face the prospect of conceding ground to the Dolphins in rugby league’s secret signing war if their traumatic season ends with a whimper next weekend.

The Dolphins may lack a marquee signing but Wayne Bennett has recruited what is essentially a “hold your ground’’ squad capable of an honest showing in the Dolphins’ first seasons before the cavalry arrive.

Players like the Bromwich brothers and Felise Kaufusi are not going to take a new team to a title or probably not the top eight.

But they are serviceable professionals who should ensure their club doesn’t get laughed at. The Melbourne Storm trio will be to Bennett what flint hard Bryan Niebling, Greg Dowling and Greg Conescu were to him in the Broncos first year in 1988.

They are the bricks and mortar that hold the side together while you search for the fancy interior decorators to support Wally Lewis and a young Allan Langer.

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Payne Haas and the Broncos dejected. Picture NRL Photos

The challenge for Bennett this time is although he has some useful bricklayers, he currently lacks the men who light up the living room.

However, the key to the Dolphins’ mid-term success will not be how the Bromwich boys shine but how the generation after them perform and this is where the duel with the Broncos is so significant.

The Dolphins will grow from within and to do that they need to establish the reputation of their club in the Queensland marketplace.

They could do without the Broncos shooting the lights out and becoming a destination club which only has to wink in the direction of local up and comers and they sign on.

A month ago the Broncos looked like that club again. Suddenly they are not.

The Dolphins have signed several experienced local talent scouts and have been very active in the junior ranks, signing a fleet of teenagers who will be part of the club’s slow burn.

The secret war for young talent, featuring suburban talent spotting, extensive research, tips coming from informed sources and occasionally the bush telegraph, may not snare many headlines but it is extremely important.

Selwyn Cobbo is an example of Queensland’s amazing junior production line. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Soon enough another Selwyn Cobbo will appear from nowhere and you can bet at some point he has to choose between the Dolphins and the Broncos.

Given the short time lag he had to prepare, Bennett can be excused for choosing a “hold your ground’’ squad while he scatters lines in the water trying to hook younger stars.

The Dolphins are aware that the Broncos and many other clubs focus on the rich talent stream which seems to flow non-stop from Logan City to the Gold Coast so the new club will head north.

They have established a link to the Central Queensland Capras – Bennett was there a week ago – and will plough the channel between Brisbane and Rockhampton while keeping an eye on other areas.

It’s an underrated area which has spat out the likes of Cam Munster (Rockhampton), Parramatta hooker Reed Mahoney (Nambour) and Canberra’s Corey Horsburgh who once played for the Caboolture Snakes before a stint with the Redcliffe Dolphins.

Originally published as NRL 2022: Broncos risk falling behind in secret signing war for Queensland’s top youngsters