Brisbane Broncos embark on three trials in search of diamonds in the rough who will provide the sparkle and shine in the dire times when premiership titles are won or lost.
The Broncos must rediscover the template of success they once owned, which is now the domain of mighty Penrith.
The time for empty optimism associated with NRL pre-seasons, particularly at the Broncos after coaches are sacked and new mentors installed, is over.
New coach Michael Maguire will be under the microscope as never before.
The Broncos play “feeder team” Burleigh on the Gold Coast on Saturday night and will field a suite of players in the top 30 squad who must be ready to be key contributors to wins during the NRL season when the chips are down.
Three back-up halves – including Jock Madden, Josh Rogers and 18-year-old Coby Black – will play.
In the upcoming season there may be an unexpected time when one, or more, of playmakers Ben Hunt, captain Adam Reynolds or the suspended Ezra Mam are unavailable.
The halves in waiting must step up, as former Penrith playmaker Jack Cogger did with style in the 2023 grand final when Jarome Luai was replaced in the second half against the Broncos due to injury.
The tallest rugby league player in the NRL, 20-year-old 205cm giant Ben Te Kura, has been named to start at prop against Burleigh.
This is an early chance to show he can be part of the next generation of leading Broncos front-rowers as four-time title winner Shane Webcke was when he arrived at Red Hill in the 1990s as a raw talent but no pedigree.
The famous “Baby Broncos”, inaugurated when Shane Walker led a bunch of novices to a 28-14 away win over Wests Tigers in 2002 without a plethora of Queensland stars, set a benchmark that Brisbane would win games no matter who took the field.
That standard was maintained under ex-coach Wayne Bennett’s stewardship in the run to the 2006 title win, the last of six Broncos premierships.
The Broncos also received elite displays at various stages in their golden run in five title wins from 1992 to 2000 from so-called unfashionable players like John Plath and Michael De Vere who were integral to their success.
What was once the Broncos forte is now owned by Penrith. In each of their consecutive four premiership wins they’ve unearthed unfashionable winners who’ve risen for the big occasion. Hooker Mitch Kenny and tough as teak forward Lindsay Smith are two of the most recent.
The bottom line is that muscle memory forged while experiencing repetitive success, combined with elite coaching and pure desire, have moulded the Panthers into the greatest modern day team under the genius of Ivan Cleary. Brisbane have done it before and must do it again under Maguire.
Broncos centre Delouise Hoeter, who will play against Burleigh, was asked about the importance of having a winning squad mentality like Penrith.
“We speak about that all the time, that it is going to take 30-plus players to get us where we want to be,” he said.
“We all have the ability to do our job whether we have played nearly 300 games like Adam Reynolds or zero like Coby Black.
“Whoever fills in … the attention to detail at training is going to come forward in the big moments in games.
“We have built that capacity with our training and intensity and we know that whoever steps in is more than capable of doing their job.”
The Broncos will also play trials in February against Gold Coast and Canterbury.
Written By: Joel Gould © AAP 2025
