Reece Walsh impressed and there were promising signs for the new-look Broncos halves combination of Ben Hunt and Adam Reynolds as Brisbane defeated the Bulldogs 24-14 at Kayo Stadium.
New Broncos coach Michael Maguire will be concerned after stars Kotoni Staggs, Payne Haas and Walsh all left the field early but the club told Fox League the star fullback’s minutes were going to be managed and AAP have been told the trio would be fit for Round 1.
“I’m sure they’ll be fine,” Jesse Arthars said.
“They’re very important. They’re obviously our leaders, so we look to them when it gets tough. Payno likes to lead from the front and we’re going to need him in the season.”
With both teams shedding youth and fringe first-graders in favour of star power, Canterbury struggled until late in the contest when they were able to make the scoreline look more flattering than they perhaps deserved.
In the second game of the doubleheader from Redcliffe, Gold Coast beat the Dolphins 26-12 but it was not all good news for Des Hasler’s side.
Hasler had to shuffle his backline when veteran half Kieran Foran was forced off after suffering an arm injury, with Keano Kini wearing the No.1 jersey, AJ Brimson at five-eighth and Jayden Campbell playing halfback with all three involved in the scoring and looking comfortable in their respective positions.
With an opening round bye, Hasler has time to decide how to fit all his attacking talent in the line-up to face Canterbury in Round 2 at Belmore.
Dolphins forward Tom Gilbert would have been happy to finish the game unhurt after a nasty run of injuries but Jack Bostok left the field in some pain.
Broncos 24, Bulldogs 14
Walsh sines, halves duo gels ahead of Round 1
Maguire fielded close to his first-choice line-up with Brisbane fans getting their first look at the Reynolds-Hunt duo with incumbent five-eighth Ezra Mam to miss the first nine rounds of 2025.
The experienced duo, boasting more than 600 NRL games between them, combined for the opening try as Reynolds capitalised on Connor Tracey’s mistake from a well placed Hunt bomb.
Maguire faces a few headaches after off-contract star Staggs only lasted 25 minutes, with a quad injury potentially ruling him out of the season opening fixture against the Roosters at Allianz Stadium on March 6.
Prop forward Haas was off five minutes later with an ankle twinge. There was initial concern from the Broncos bench considering he’d had an ankle clean-out in the pre-season. Haas sat on the bench for the rest of the match, but did not return.
Walsh started the contest in the No.1 jersey and buzzed around as usual, kicking a 40-20 in a strong 40-minute performance that also included a quality try assist for Arthars.
The superstar custodian was shown on the Fox League coverage with ice on his knee but the club said it was just precautionary and the plan was always for Walsh to depart the field after the first half.
Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo also injected lots of NRL experience into a side that will look similar come the Round 1 clash with the Dragons at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium as they aim for a return to the finals after the disappointing elimination final exit to Manly in 2024.
Spine regulars Connor Tracey, Matt Burton, Toby Sexton and Reed Mahoney all featured in the Canterbury starting team, as did Viliame Kikau, Bronson Xerri and captain Stephen Crichton.
Tracey had an afternoon to forget, dropping two kicks that directly led to Brisbane tries and unable to make an impact with the ball.
Burton’s left boot at least caused some havoc with the wind blowing one bomb about 30 metres in-field.
It took until the 59th minute for the Bulldogs to hit the scoreboard through Jacob Preston, going through questionable defence and running 60 metres in a quality solo effort.
Broncos flex attacking firepower
Under pressure from Walsh, Tracey put down a quality bomb from Hunt and halves partner Reynolds pounced on the loose ball for the opening try after 22 minutes.
Walsh was involved again as the fullback showcased his stunning speed, laying on a four-pointer for Arthars in the corner.
Jock Madden burst through poor Bulldogs defence then set up Selwyn Cobbo in the final minute of the opening half as Brisbane shot out to a 14-0 advantage at half-time.
Tracey fumbled another kick with Delouise Hoeter this time the beneficiary as the Broncos stretched their lead a few minutes into the second stanza.
Preston finally got Canterbury on the board with an excellent solo try, springing out of dummy half and running from beyond halfway for his side’s first try.
Quick-fire tries from Ratu Rinakama and Blake Wilson got the Bulldogs within touching distance but Deine Mariner crashed over with ten minutes left to play.
Benjamin Te Kura added a try in the final few minutes.
Titans 26, Dolphins 12
Foran goes down but Titans talents show versatility in Dolphins victory
Foran’s injury was an unwelcome sight for Hasler and Titans fans but the promise shown by AJ Brimson and Campbell as a halves combination would be encouraging.
The Titans told Fox League that Foran still had range of movement in his arm but didn’t disclose the exact point of the injury.
Another concern for Gold Coast was 20-year-old Josiah Pahulu’s failed HIA after the prop took heavy contact to the head late in the first half.
Keano Kini opened the scoring eight minutes into the Queensland derby to give his side the perfect start.
In another show of the Titans’ attacking prowess, Brimson pounced on Campbell’s inventive kick and sped through the defence to stretch the Gold Coast lead.
But their defensive frailties were also on show with Mark Nicholls crashing over from close range at the other end to reduce the Dolphins’ deficit to six points at half-time.
Beau Fermor scored six minutes after the main break to restore his team’s 12-point advantage.
Jake Averillo put on the afterburners after receiving Max Plath’s quality offload to score in the corner.
With Kenny Bromwich in the bin for a professional foul, David Fifita showed silky hands for a big man to set up Jojo Fifita who crashed over to increase the Titans’ lead.
Gold Coast continued to make their case as the NRL’s entertainers as Campbell and Brimson combined again for another try.
Nicholls grabbed his second four-pointer
with AAP
