Broncos may blood tackle busting freak Izaia Perese against Panthers
Former rugby star Izaia Perese is being considered for an NRL debut against the Panthers as coach Anthony Seibold looks to unleash the gun rookie at Suncorp Stadium.
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Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold is considering blooding another rookie with former Queensland Reds young gun Izaia Perese in the frame to make his Broncos debut against Penrith this Friday night.
Seibold will finalise his 17-man squad on Thursday at the captain’s run with Perese and towering forward Rhys Kennedy vying for the final spot on Brisbane’s bench for the crucial top-eight showdown at Suncorp Stadium.
NRL convert Perese trained with the top squad on Wednesday, interchanging at left centre with Gehamat Shibasaki in a sign Seibold is seriously weighing up the prospect of blooding the 22-year-old.
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The Courier-Mail understands Shibasaki will definitely start, with Seibold to decide between Perese’s speed and attacking instincts or the no-nonsense forward industry provided by the 197cm Kennedy on interchange.
Broncos teammates have been impressed by the athleticism of Perese, a former Australian Schoolboys ace who starred in the green-and-gold in the under-20s rugby World Cup in 2017.
Perese has been in sizzling form for feeder-club Redcliffe this season in the Intrust Super Cup. The classy outside back has scored seven tries in 15 games and amassed a staggering 117 tackle busts, including a whopping 14 per game in three consecutive weeks.
“I’m not sure if he will play, but ‘Seibs’ (Seibold) might give him a taste so let’s see how he goes,” Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs said of Perese.
“I think he’s ready, he’s been playing outstanding for ‘Reddy’ so we’ll see what Seibs feels about him.”
The Broncos can leapfrog Penrith into seventh spot, and virtually seal a finals berth, with victory at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night and Staggs dismissed suggestions Brisbane can’t compete with the NRL’s top-four sides.
Melbourne (40-4), the Roosters (36-4) and Souths (38-6) have thrashed the Broncos this season, although Brisbane did exact revenge against the tri-colours with a 15-10 boilover in round 10.
“I think we can compete with them,” he said. “Our defence wasn’t switched on the night we played Melbourne but we just let ourselves down there.
“I still believe we can compete with the top four.
“We have to win every game now. Our defence is the most important thing we have been practising so if we keep our defence on track we will go a long way.”
Staggs is wary of the threat posed by 120kg Panthers powerhouse Viliame Kikau, who will be making a beeline for himself and Broncos forward Tevita Pangai Jr.
“I have watched a fair bit of him on TV, he is a big boy,” Staggs said. “He is strong and he runs hard all the time so he will be hard to stop.
“I’m expecting Kikau to come across our side so it’s important we take time away from James Maloney inside him and get in his face.”
Originally published as Broncos may blood tackle busting freak Izaia Perese against Panthers
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