Broncos 2024: Brendan Piakura suffers MCL injury, Ezra Mam cleared for Las Vegas start

Brendan Piakura is racing the clock to be fit for Las Vegas after scans revealed the Broncos back-rower sustained damage to his medial cruciate ligament.

Brendan Piakura has a knee injury.

The Broncos have vowed to take no risks with injured Brendan Piakura as the boom back-rower races the clock to prove his fitness for the season opener in Las Vegas.

Broncos coach Kevin Walters breathed a sigh of relief on Monday when scans cleared Piakura of major knee damage after his two-try haul in Brisbane’s 46-20 trial defeat of the Cowboys on Sunday.

The young gun returned from Mackay to learn he had suffered only minor damage to his medial cruciate ligament after hobbling off late in the first half of the eight-tries-to-four mauling in which he starred.

Piakura will head to America with the Broncos on Thursday and remains hopeful of succeeding Warriors recruit Kurt Capewell in the No.11 jumper for the round 1 showdown with the Roosters at Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium on Sunday week (AEST).

But Walters will take a precautionary stance in a gruelling 27-round season if Piakura’s progress in America is slower than expected.

The 21-year-old is not expected to be sidelined for longer than one to two weeks in a boost for the Broncos, who lack back-row depth following the sudden departure of Capewell.

Broncos high-performance chief Dave Ballard said: “The scans show Brendan has picked up a low-grade strain to his MCL.

“We’ll see how he pulls up over the next 24 hours before mapping out a rehab program over the coming days.

Brendan Piakura with his knee in a brace.

“Brendan remains a chance to play Round 1 but there is a full season ahead of us, so we will see how it settles before making a final decision.”

Life after Capewell looked glorious early when Piakura charged over for two tries in the opening 27 minutes to suggest he can be a classy successor to his veteran vice-captain.

But Piakura’s romp at BB Print Stadium copped a setback when he suffered knee damage late in the first half, although Walters was impressed with the rookie’s lethal running on the edge.

“Brendan ran some great lines and he defended well, too,” Walters said.

“He is a real talent and did some good things at the back end of last year.

“If he’s not available for round one, we will look at our options.”

While he has played only 15 NRL games, Piakura showed touches of class at the back end of last season and was pencilled in to succeed Capewell in the No.11 jumper for the 2024 opener on March 3.

Should Piakura be ruled out for Vegas, versatile forward Pat Carrigan could shift from the middle to the edge, just as he did last season for a few games in the absence of injured back-rower Jordan Riki.

The potential loss of Piakura could open the door for Kobe Hetherington to start at lock if Carrigan moves to the left edge.

Injured star cleared for Vegas

The Broncos have received a huge boost with star playmaker Ezra Mam cleared of injury to kickstart Brisbane’s premiership assault in the NRL’s historic season-opener in Las Vegas.

Mam suffered a scare in pre-season when he pulled a groin muscle during a Broncos gym session.

The injury prompted the Broncos to place Mam in cotton wool, with the young gun ruled out of Indigenous All Stars selection and missing Sunday’s 46-20 trial defeat of the Cowboys in Mackay.

Jock Madden filled in at five-eighth in the Cowboys hitout, but Broncos medicos have given Mam the green light to partner Adam Reynolds in round 1 against the Roosters at Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium on Sunday week (AEST).

“Ezra is fine, he is good to go for round 1,” Broncos coach Kevin Walters said.

Ezra Mam will miss the entire pre-season. Picture: Lachie Millard

While disappointed to pull out of the Indigenous All Stars clash for the second consecutive season, Mam’s priority was overcoming his groin complaint in time to be unleashed in Vegas.

“I had to manage my load a bit,” he said.

“I put all my trust in the performance staff at the club.

“It was a bit disappointing to pull out of the All Stars. I gave the coaches a ring and just had to pull out.

“It was disappointing to pull out of it for the second year now but who knows, it could be third time lucky next year and hopefully I can play in the game. It has always been a big goal to represent my culture on the big stage.

“It is a little niggle in my groin, but it’s not too serious. I will be back on the field (for round 1).”

Originally published as Broncos 2024: Brendan Piakura suffers MCL injury, Ezra Mam cleared for Las Vegas start