Another Broncos injury, but champion insists critics are ‘jumping the gun’
Just when the return of Adam Reynolds breathed life into the Broncos’ injury-plagued campaign, another setback has sent a collective groan through Red Hill.
Brendan Piakura was seen on the ground during the club’s opposed session on Tuesday, before limping from the field with an ankle concern.
The 21-year-old edge forward is now in doubt for Brisbane’s clash with the North Queensland Cowboys on Friday night, and would join star prop Payne Haas and fullback Reece Walsh on the sidelines.
Should Piakura be ruled out, Dragons recruit Jaiyden Hunt looms as an option, earning an endorsement from teammate Fletcher Baker.
“It didn’t look too bad, but he’s getting checked out. If he doesn’t play it’s obviously that next man up as well, so it will be a better challenge for us,” Baker said
“[Hunt] is a workhorse, he played good football at the Dragons and he’s a good footballer. Last week in [Queensland] Cup he played some in the middle too, so I think he’s just getting into that utility role.
“Obviously, we’ve got a couple of boys out at the moment … we also haven’t played that good the first couple of rounds and if we can start playing good footy and start getting some good wins, imagine when those boys come back.”
Haas is expected to miss up to another five weeks after undergoing knee surgery, and the way the Broncos have been beaten through the middle with him off the field and without Dolphins defector Thomas Flegler has strengthened speculation Tevita Pangai junior could make a shock comeback.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters said he would not rule out bringing the one-time State of Origin prop back into the fold – having been the man to sign off on his release in 2021 – but declared the depth of his forwards was not the issue.
“No, not yet. We’re still comfortable with where we are,” Walters said, when asked if he would be on the hunt for another middle.
“Even with all those players we still could’ve lost two games. We played some quality teams, and we have had some changes to our squad and our list, so we’re still adjusting a little bit to that.
“But a lot of the work that we need to do is about ourselves and making sure we get our defence right. I’m just disappointed with that 20-minute period [after Walsh left the field] where we didn’t adjust as quickly as we should have.”
Beyond the Broncos’ starting side, depth throughout the pack is limited.
Xavier Willison, Corey Jensen, Kobe Hetherington, Marty Taupau and Baker all took the field last week, with only Hunt and teenage giant Ben Te Kura yet to play.
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