NRL 2024 Pre-season Challenge Trial Takeaways: Broncos claim $100,000 prize

Brisbane’s superstar Las Vegas squad will return home $100,000 richer thanks to the club’s new batch of baby Broncos. MARTIN GABOR dissects Brisbane’s Pre-season Challenge win over Manly.

The new batch of baby Broncos have helped land the Pre-season Challenge $100,000 cash prize after they overcame a slow start to smash Manly 40-14 at 4 Pines Park.

Canberra’s loss to North Queensland on Sunday sealed the cash windfall for Brisbane.

Both Manly and Brisbane were without their stars who are in America for next week’s historic Las Vegas double-header, but the Broncos showed off their depth which was a ray of sunshine on an otherwise gloomy evening in Sydney.

The Sea Eagles jumped out to an early 10-0 lead but the visitors blew the game wide open with a try either side of halftime to give them a 22-10 lead 60 seconds into the second half.

The first was a controversial penalty try with the Bunker ruling that Clayton Faulalo kicked the ball out of Sione Hopoate’s hands in the act of scoring.

The Sea Eagles had no one to blame but themselves for the second try when they let the kick-off bounce, with Delouise Hoeter powering his way over from the ensuing scrum less than a minute into the second half.

Cory Paix celebrates scoring at Brookvale. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

COMBINATIONS

It took just a couple of minutes for Brad Parker’s move to the backrow to pay off with the former centre crashing over for the first points of the evening.

It’s a trend we’ll see a lot more of in the coming years as outside backs bulk up and move infield, and it could be an important move for Parker with Josh Schuster battling injuries.

Parker looked good while he was on the field and will now head off to Vegas to link up with the rest of the NRL squad ahead of next week’s game against Souths.

RECRUIT WATCH

He’s not in their top 30 squad, but former Panthers playmaker Kurt Falls showed he’s good enough to play in the NRL if the Broncos need to use him later in the year.

Falls got a taste of first grade in 2022 but made the move north in the off-season where he showed his value with two tries in the big win that saw Brisbane rack up a couple of crucial bonus points.

The halfback got the Broncos on the board with a solo effort from close range and then combined well with Hopoate down the left edge midway through the second half to put the visitors up by 20.

Kurt Falls could prove a shrewd pick up for Brisbane. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

ROOKIE WATCH

It’s going to take a couple of injuries for Jamie Humphreys to get a crack in the halves, but the Manly young gun showed on Saturday he’s got the versatility to shift from five-eighth to dummy-half if required.

Humphreys played a key role in his side’s two first-half tries, first putting Parker into a hole before he helped set up Max Lehmann to make it 10-0.

He then moved to hooker where he was just as busy, putting pressure on the likes of Karl Lawton and Gordon Chan Kum Tong for a bench spot.

Jamie Humphreys is a genuine star of the future. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

HOT TAKE

Ben Te Kura is living proof that size does matters, with the 205cm giant ready to become one of the most destructive bench forwards in the NRL.

The teen sensation was the first forward to crack 100 running metres on Saturday and showed some nifty footwork that must be a nightmare for defenders.

With the Broncos losing Tom Flegler, Kurt Capewell and Keenan Palasia in the off-season, Te Kura could easily emerge as Brisbane’s X-factor off the bench if Kevin Walters thinks he’s ready.

FINAL SAY

The Broncos may have lost some of the stars who helped them reach last year’s grand final, but they have the depth to keep the incumbents on their toes as they look to go one better in 2024.

They fell one offload short of a third bonus point which could come back to haunt them.

Originally published as NRL 2024 Pre-season Challenge Trial Takeaways: Broncos claim $100,000 prize