Broncos to fly back to Brisbane after Roosters clash despite Cyclone Alfred

Despite Cyclone Alfred grounding flights in Brisbane, the Broncos have been given the green light from Queensland premier David Crisafulli to fly home after their Roosters clash.

The Broncos will catch an emergency charter flight home to Brisbane immediately after Thursday night’s premiership opener against the Roosters.

Queensland premier David Crisafulli has given the green light for the Broncos to fly into the Sunshine State following urgent talks with Broncos boss Dave Donaghy in the lead-up to the round 1 clash.

With Brisbane airport temporarily closed due to the Cyclone Alfred threat, the Broncos will land in Toowoomba before boarding a waiting bus for a two-hour trip to their headquarters at Red Hill.

The Broncos’ clash against the Roosters is due to finish around 9.45pm NSW time.

Brisbane players will then race to Sydney airport to board their charter flight at 11pm.

The Broncos were originally booked into an 8am flight on Friday morning but have expedited their return home amid fears for their families as Cyclone Alfred approaches Brisbane.

A Broncos spokesperson confirmed Brisbane will catch a charter back to Queensland tonight.

“Our CEO Dave Donaghy has been on the phone to the Premier and we have permission for a charter flight,” the spokesperson said.

“We have been in touch with disaster authorities to say we want to get home as soon as possible.

“We can’t land in Brisbane, so we’ll fly to Toowoomba and then get a bus from there to ensure the players are home as quickly as possible.

“We will stay here (in Sydney) if we need to, but the plan is to return home tonight on a charter flight.”

REECE WALSH DARES ROOSTERS TO TARGET HIM TONIGHT

Reece Walsh says he doesn’t fear being bashed out of the game as Brisbane’s fullback superstar outlined his desire to be the best player in the NRL.

Walsh will look to wash away the demons of a tumultuous 2024 campaign when he kicks off a new era at the Broncos – starting with Thursday night’s round 1 blockbuster against the Roosters.

Brisbane’s $5 million man will wage a marquee fullback shootout with Roosters champion James Tedesco in a showdown that will have a large bearing on the victor at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium.

Walsh has the biggest social-media footprint in the NRL with more than half-a-million followers and all eyes will be on the Queensland Origin star’s fightback in 2025.

The 22-year-old endured a difficult 2024, suffering a facial fracture in round 3, a sickening concussion in State of Origin I and season-ending wrist surgery that restricted him to just 14 appearances.

There were fears for Walsh’s long-term welfare last season with a number of rival defences rushing up to attack the Broncos fullback, sometimes illegally, as he chimed into the play at full speed.

But on the eve of his comeback from injury against the Roosters, Walsh has vowed to continue to play his way and is unfazed if rival defenders try to target him.

Reece Walsh and the Broncos team train at Red Hill before the opening round of the 2025 NRL season. Pics Adam Head

“It’s rugby league,” he said ahead of his fullback duel with Tedesco.

“You are always going to be targeted when you are in the spine.

“If people want to target me, that’s fine – it’s only going to be good for us because then the boys around me can optimise that and use their skill to pick teams apart.

“I have to adapt for the game plans of teams I face.

“If defenders are coming out of the line, I have to be better with the things I do with setting people up or changing direction.

“I believe in myself that I can change on the run.

“If teams want to ‘jam’ on me (rush up to shut him down), then I will slow up and put other plays on.”

ROUND 1 TEAMS

8PM THURSDAY MARCH 6 AT ALLIANZ STADIUM, SYDNEY

Roosters

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Mark Nawaqanitawase 4. Robert Toia 5. Dominic Young 6. Sandon Smith 7. Chad Townsend 8. Lindsay Collins 9. Connor Watson 10. Naufahu Whyte 11. Angus Crichton 12. Victor Radley 15. Siua Wong

Interchange: 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 16. Blake Steep 17. Salesi Foketi Va’a 19. Taylor Losalu

Reserves: 18. Hugo Savala 22. Makahesi Makatoa

Broncos

1. Reece Walsh 2. Selwyn Cobbo 3. Deine Mariner 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ben Hunt 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Pat Carrigan 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Jack Gosiewski 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington

Interchange: 14. Billy Walters 15. Corey Jensen 16. Xavier Willison 17. Brendan Piakura

Reserves: 18. Tyson Smoothy 19. Delouise Hoeter

Originally published as Broncos to fly back to Brisbane after Roosters clash despite Cyclone Alfred