2022 Preview: Brisbane Broncos

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The first of our 16 NRL club previews for 2022 looks at the Brisbane Broncos. Check out how Lachy MacCorquodale has the season ahead panning out for the team from Red Hill.

After an improved season in 2021, can the Brisbane Broncos sneak into the top eight in 2022?

Despite winning only seven matches last year, Brisbane did show some improvement upon their awful 2020 season. Again, it was their young players who gave the fans something to cheer about as they watched a young and inexperienced side miss out on finals for the second year straight.

The Broncos have only won 10 games over the course of the past two seasons, and they'll be aiming to at least hit that mark in 2022 with the addition of quality players like Adam Reynolds and Kurt Capewell.

Why They'll Win It

It's hard to picture the Broncos lifting the premiership trophy in October, but that doesn't mean that it's out of the question. They've added two premiership winners to their list which will prove invaluable to the young core of the squad. This young group has generated excitement over the past few seasons and features the likes of Payne Haas and Kotoni Staggs, two players who have already proven their quality on the field and will no doubt benefit playing alongside two players who have accomplished the most sought-after feat in the game.

2014 premiership winner, Reynolds, becomes the Broncos' best halfback since the departure of Ben Hunt at the end of 2017. Behind a young and exciting forward pack, he will bring both excellent game management and an even better kicking game to Red Hill. If any player is going to help the Broncos win the title, it'll be the little halfback who has featured in the finals in eight of his 10 seasons to date. After being bounced out of the Grand Final by Penrith last year, can the number seven go one better this season with Brisbane?

Why They Won't

The Broncos haven't won a premiership since 2006 and while they've fielded some great teams since, they've continuously fallen short of hoisting the Provan-Summons Trophy in those 15 seasons since. The 2015 Grand Final was the closest this club has been to glory, but were denied the pleasure by a heartbreaking Johnathan Thurston golden point field goal. That 2015 side won 17 games throughout the regular season - ten more than they won in 2021.

It's incredibly difficult to see a side that finished in 14th place with seven wins, go on to win the premiership in the following season. Despite the addition of Reynolds and Capewell, the Broncos still field a young and inexperienced side that has struggled to compete for the full 80 minutes over the past two seasons. The addition of Reynolds will help with the game management side of things, but we don't yet know who will partner him in the halves - all we know is that the options for the number six jersey don't jump off the page. In fact, Reynolds is arguably the only experienced player in the spine with 20-year-old Tesi Niu at Fullback and 45-gamer Jake Turpin at dummy-half. It helps to have an experienced and settled spine, as we've seen with the last three title winners in the Melbourne Storm, Sydney Roosters and the Penrith Panthers.

There is still plenty to like about this young side and the 2022 season could set the club up for a big future, however, a premiership this year is extremely unlikely.

Key Players

It goes without saying Adam Reynolds and Kurt Capewell are bona fide stars being added to the squad.

Reynolds, at 31 years of age is in the back half of his career but still has plenty of valuable football to play. The former Rabbitoh compiled seven try assists and scored five himself throughout the 2021 season, by no means incredible, but something in which the Broncos have lacked over the past few seasons. His greatest attributes can't be measured by basic counting of stats though. The halfback's game management and kicking game will be his biggest addition to the Broncos gameplan and as a result, expect to see the team compete in closer contests than they have in the past two seasons. His ball movement will be crucial in 2022 and he'll know when it's time to give his young players the ball, especially Kotoni Staggs, who will be Reynolds' most dangerous weapon on the edge.

The 23-year-old centre has had an injury riddled two seasons but is without a doubt one of the most exciting centres in the game today. In just 18 games since the start of 2020, Staggs has scored 13 tries and made 16 line breaks, incredible numbers. He's proven to be a handful for opposition defenders since his debut in 2018 and hopefully Kotoni can complete his season, injury-free for the first time since 2019.

Another young Bronco who will benefit from playing with a star number seven is 22-year-old Payne Haas. Despite his young age, Haas' has already represented New South Wales on seven occasions and has roughly nine NRL appearances for each Origin appearance he has made. Already regarded as one of the best front rowers in the game, Haas' has averaged 169 run metres per game in his 61-game career and completes an impressive 36 tackles per game.

Reynolds will love having Haas run off him in the middle of the park and with his impressive footwork and tackle breaking ability (3.4 tackle breaks per game in 2021), could see his already impressive game continue to improve. Haas' will also benefit from spending time with and picking the brain of Capewell throughout the season.

Despite debuting as a 23-year-old, Capewell has already accomplished plenty since his debut in 2016. The now 28-year-old has a premiership ring and a State of Origin title to his name. Capewell brings a wealth of experience to the Broncos having been coached by both Wayne Bennett and Ivan Cleary in the past two seasons and will no doubt pass this knowledge onto his younger teammates. Capewell will also be invaluable on the park after a career-best season with the Panthers, averaging 81 run metres per game and making an incredible 32 tackles per game on the edge.

Any club would be lucky to field these four players and if any success comes the Broncos' way in 2022, expect these four to be apart of it.

Breakthrough player to watch

The Broncos boast one of the most exciting young talents in the game today, 19-year-old, Selwyn Cobbo.

The young outside back can play anywhere from one to five, filling in mostly at centre in his seven games last season. The rookie showed glimpses during the season and saved arguably his best performance for last. In a 35-22 win against Newcastle to finish off the season Cobbo scored a try, set up another, ran for 186 metres and broke six tackles. A great performance for just his seventh appearance in first grade. However, his best performance of the season came in the Queensland Cup Grand Final. Despite going on to lose the game by six points, Cobbo nabbed a try himself, ran for an incredible 274 metres and broke an insane 18 tackles.

Cobbo finished the reserve grade season with six tries, 70 tackle breaks and 184 run metres per game in just 10 appearances. The youngster has already drawn comparisons with the likes of Greg Inglis and Latrell Mitchell, which speaks volumes about the talent the kid possess.

Another youngster to keep an eye out for is 19-year-old half Ezra Mam. Not expected to feature as much as Cobbo, but Mam is very much one for the future. Playing for Souths Logan Magpies in the Queensland Cup last season, Mam scored 13 tries and assisted a further eight in just 11 appearances. Just shy of two try involvements a game. If Mam can continue these performances into the 2022 season, he could feature in the halves alongside Reynolds much sooner than expected.

Player Movements

Inbound: Adam Reynolds (South Sydney), Kurt Capewell (Penrith), Brenko Lee (Melbourne), Corey Jensen (North Qld), Jordan Pereira (St Geo Illa), Billy Walters (Wests Tigers), Ryan James (Canberra)

Outbound: John Asiata (Canterbury then Leigh), Xavier Coates (Melbourne), Anthony Milford*, Isaiah Tass (South Sydney), Brodie Croft (Salford (SL)), Danny Levi (Huddersfield (SL)), Ethan Bullemor (Manly), Alex Glenn, Ben Te'o (retired), Richie Kennar (released)

Predicted/best 17

1. Tesi Niu
2. Corey Oates
3. Herbie Farnworth
4. Kotoni Staggs
5. Selwyn Cobbo
6. Albert Kelly
7. Adam Reynolds
8. Thomas Flegler*
9. Jake Turpin
10. Payne Haas
11. Jordan Riki
12. Kurt Capewell
13. Patrick Carrigan
14. Kobe Hetherington
15. Rhys Kennedy
16. TC Robati
17. Ryan James

* Flegler is injured to start the season

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