2026 Pre-Season Discussion

Berry Barrigan said:
ZeroTackle are bizarre sometimes. Article on big questions for Broncos in 2026 (https://www.zerotackle.com/brisbane...njury-problems-and-backline-decisions-229688/), first two:

1. How we’ll deal with Billy’s ACL injury: yep fair enough, he’s going to be a big loss and will be out for 6 months minimum by the sounds. Article mentions Hunt obviously, sets it up as a duel between he and Mozer, even calls out young Bukowski making waves at Cup, but ends saying with Billy’s injury and Smoothy off to ESL we have a worrying lack of hooker depth. That covers it pretty well… all they forgot was the guy who started hooker and played 63mins of that grand final we won back in 2025.

2. Reynolds’ injury issues: they mention Benny may have to fill in again (but because of our famous lack of hookers, is that even possible?!), freak out over losing Madden and Coby, know who Josh Rogers is so they must do SOME research but they’ve somehow missed the Tom Duffy buy. Part of the whole reason why Black is off to Canberra.

ZT do some clickbait-y stuff but are mostly decent, but joizus what’s going on
Click to expand...

I don't think it's that wild an assessment at hooker, two rookies, Hunt on his last legs and Paix was only given a one-year extension and is now off contract. It's not super settled. You couldn't confidently say any are going to be the hooker for 30 games in 26.
 
Big Pete said:
I'm curious to see how Mason Teague performs in the trials. He's very much in that style of a modern lock forward but has just struggled to stand out in the seniors. If he can find another gear, he'll be a great pick up for the club.
Click to expand...

I don't see him as too dissimilar to Smoothy, can play hooker, lock, second row and bench and is smart.
 
Big Pete said:
I'm curious to see how Mason Teague performs in the trials. He's very much in that style of a modern lock forward but has just struggled to stand out in the seniors. If he can find another gear, he'll be a great pick up for the club.
Click to expand...
Forgot about Teague, but Id say lock is his best position he just doesnt seem to have the size to match his physicality
 
1910 said:
I don't think it's that wild an assessment at hooker, two rookies, Hunt on his last legs and Paix was only given a one-year extension and is now off contract. It's not super settled. You couldn't confidently say any are going to be the hooker for 30 games in 26.
Click to expand...
All good points, agree that hooker is definitely far from settled. But the article (from a league publication) doesn’t mention Cory Paix at all
 
Berry Barrigan said:
All good points, agree that hooker is definitely far from settled. But the article (from a league publication) doesn’t mention Cory Paix at all
Click to expand...
Yeah it's far from settled, but Mozer and Buk are both prospects and Paix just played near 80 in a GF and hasn't left broncos despite years on the sideline... if he's offered a contract, which I think he will because Madge likes him, then I dont see why he doesnt sign.

Billy is injured until midseason but would likely sign back on if offered.

I dont really see 9 as a major issue for us... losing Smoothy and having no backup lock is a bigger concern to me.
 
If any of our fringe 30, T&T or development guys can be a serviceable lock and second rower that could guarantee them a bench spot. Won’t shit the bed at lock for 25 mins? Kinda sorta do the job when Piaks gets a Cat 1? You’re in the 17 son
 
Sproj said:
Seriously though, Smoothy is a massive loss. I don’t think there is anyone else in the world who covers a many positions as he does.
Click to expand...
Apart from all Smoothy's unheralded heroics, in the dying seconds of the GF, while he was playing halfback, he dropped back to fullback when storm shifted to the right, which E.Katoa noticed and thays why he threw that long pass only for Riki to intercept,, it was the hole Smoothy left that triggered that pass. A lot of effort areas smoothy has done that has gone unnoticed that got us that premiership.
 
Open training session at Toowoomba January 20th at Toowoomba Grammar School. 4:00 - 5:45pm.

Join us on Tuesday 20 January for a Brisbane Broncos Open Training Session at Toowoomba Grammar School.
Come along and watch the squad take to the field for a live training session as preparations for the season continue.
The Broncos merchandise van will be on site with gear available to purchase.
Please note there will be no food or beverage available for purchase on site. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own water, sunscreen and hats.
Event Details
📅
: Tuesday 20 January
⏰
: 4:00pm–5:45pm
📍
: Toowoomba Grammar School
 
I assume given the above that the full squad will be back training soon?

I'm actually surprised that they weren't back Monday. Stories on 9 both today and yesterday about the Titans and Dolphins 'training the house down", but nothing about the Broncos yet.

Looking at social media today, Kotoni posted himself doing a group fitness work out and Walshy's been running laps of Oxenford Lake.

Perhaps Madge has delayed their return as he's taking them on another infamous army camp - Buzz will love that! 😂.
 
leish107 said:
I assume given the above that the full squad will be back training soon?

I'm actually surprised that they weren't back Monday. Stories on 9 both today and yesterday about the Titans and Dolphins 'training the house down", but nothing about the Broncos yet.

Looking at social media today, Kotoni posted himself doing a group fitness work out and Walshy's been running laps of Oxenford Lake.

Perhaps Madge has delayed their return as he's taking them on another infamous army camp - Buzz will love that! 😂.
Click to expand...
I assume a few of the players who went on the ashes tour (like Wlash and Staggs) would start later than the rest, given the mandatory time off they need to have?

At least they're still keeping fit though.
 
leish107 said:
I assume given the above that the full squad will be back training soon?

I'm actually surprised that they weren't back Monday. Stories on 9 both today and yesterday about the Titans and Dolphins 'training the house down", but nothing about the Broncos yet.

Looking at social media today, Kotoni posted himself doing a group fitness work out and Walshy's been running laps of Oxenford Lake.

Perhaps Madge has delayed their return as he's taking them on another infamous army camp - Buzz will love that! 😂.
Click to expand...
Veterans get more time off after X amount of pre seasons .
Also Titans and Dolphins didn`t play finals .
 
Super Freak said:
Divided opinion on whether this is edited or not.

View attachment 37376
Click to expand...
I cannot believe that the Courier Mail actually wrote and article about this 🤦.

Can you image going to university for four years, and then working your way up to be a sports writer at a major national newspaper, just to have to troll through someones social media for content?

So many people take everything he does so seriously. Thankfully, he seems to have a decent sense of humour and can laugh at himself.

I also think he does stuff like this just to shit-stir people when he he's bored because he knows they'll react to it 😂.
 
leish107 said:
I cannot believe that the Courier Mail actually wrote and article about this 🤦.

Can you image going to university for four years, and then working your way up to be a sports writer at a major national newspaper, just to have to troll through someones social media for content?

So many people take everything he does so seriously. Thankfully, he seems to have a decent sense of humour and can laugh at himself.

I also think he does stuff like this just to shit-stir people when he he's bored because he knows they'll react to it 😂.
Click to expand...

He knows how to play the social media game well
 
As soon as I saw the pic I zoomed in on the abs thinking no way in the world. This was before the blow up about it. Fakies for sure
 
New Posts

Unread

Back
Top