2025 Preview: Brisbane Broncos

Embed from Getty Images

Beth Nicholls kicks off our 2025 club preview series, looking at the NRL season coming for the Brisbane Broncos.

Brisbane looks to right their wrongs and re-join the winner's circle in 2025. 

If you take anything from the Broncos' 2024 campaign, it's that nothing should ever be taken for granted. They were 15 minutes from a fairy-tale ending in 2023, to then barely scraping by in 2024, where the Brisbane side missed finals, finishing in 12th position, and then Kevin Walters getting sacked before the 2024 NRL Finals Series was even over. 

2024 was a disappointing year for the Broncos, built off the back of a multitude of problems, like ball handling issues, complacency, poor defence, and injuries, that when combined turned into a disastrous scene. 

Joining the club as head coach in October, Michael Maguire has taken over the Brisbane reins, taking a new approach with the club. Alongside this new coach, Red Hill sees an overhaul in coaching staff and a "reset" among the starting side players. Star-signing, Ben Hunt, also returns to home to the Broncos, signalling the dawn of a new era. 

The Broncos start their 2025 season on the road, facing both the Roosters and Raiders away from home in Round 1 and 2. They then play two classic QLD clashes, both old-time rivals North QLD Cowboys, before the first Battle of Brisbane in Round 4. 

The following months sees the Brisbane side play most of their games from the comfort of their own home, Suncorp Stadium, including facing the Roosters again. They head across the ditch in Round 7, play the Bulldogs for ANZAC Round, and then for the first time in Magic Round history, they play the Panthers. Whilst Round 13 sees the Broncos play at Brookvale for the first time since 2014. 

The run home for the Broncos is a slightly difficult one, playing arch-nemesis, Melbourne Storm, twice within the last five rounds, along with the Dolphins, Knights and Cowboys. 

Overall, Brisbane's draw is a reasonably challenging one, where they play premiership favourites, like the Roosters and Storm twice, and both in quick succession at the respective start and end of the season. However, they only play Penrith once as an away game at "home" and play at home 12/24 times (excluding the Dolphin home game and magic round). Their bye rounds are nicely placed throughout the Origin period of the season, with Round 12 and 15, and one at the back end of the season at Round 20.

Why They'll Win It

New coach, experienced players, strong side. 

On paper the Broncos have a star-studded team, with names such as Reece Walsh, Ben Hunt and Pat Carrigan all part of the Brisbane side. 

Combine this strong and experienced side, with a new coach they have all the ingredients for success. If Madge can work some magic with the Broncos, they could be in for a stellar year. 

Why They Won't

Injuries plagued the Broncos in 2024, with key players such as Adam Reynolds and Reece Walsh, missing a large percentage of games, along with scattered injuries across the season to nearly every player in the Brisbane side.

The depth of the Broncos side needs to be improved, so that in the case of injuries to core players, the show can still go on, especially when the side has a heavy reliance on individual brilliance. 

The side also showed a lot of complacency and defensive lapses during games in 2024, and that was one of their constant downfalls (literally the cause of losing both the 2015 and 2023 Grand Finals'). Brisbane needs to play a strong 80 minutes and not get complacent with the ball and defensive efforts if they want to have a successful 2025 campaign. 

2025 fixture list

Key Players

The mix of young energetic talent and controlled senior players is what brings the Broncos to life. 

The return of Ben Hunt to Red Hill in 2025 sees an experienced player join alongside Adam Reynolds in the halves, with younger talent such as Reece Walsh and Blake Mozer also amongst the mix in the spine. This combination of players can be deadly when they are injury free and work harmoniously as a team. 

Rookie/Breakthrough to Watch

Making his debut in late 2023, Blake Mozer played eight games in 2024, scoring one try, and is in top contention for either the permanent no. 9 or 14 jersey in 2025. 

Another name which is in the mix for the future of Brisbane is five-eighth, Coby Black, who has been promoted to the Broncos Top 30 Squad in 2025. The promising and talented eighteen-year-old signed a two year extension which sees him stay with the Broncos until at least the end of 2026.

Player Movement

IN: Ben Hunt (St George Illawarra)

TOP 30: Adam Reynolds, Ben Hunt, Ben Te Kura, Billy Walters, Blake Mozer, Brendan Piakura, Coby Black, Corey Jensen, Cory Paix, Deine Mariner, Delouise Hoeter, Ezra Mam, Fletcher Baker, Israel Leota, Jack Gosiewski, Jaiyden Hunt, Jesse Arthars, Jock Madden, Jordan Riki, Josh Rogers, Josiah Karapani, Kobe Hetherington, Kotoni Staggs, Martin Taupau, Patrick Carrigan, Payne Haas, Reece Walsh, Selwyn Cobbo, Tyson Smoothy, Xavier Willison

OUT: Tristan Sailor (St Helens), Corey Oates, Jordan Pereira (retirement)

DEVELOPMENT: Bailey Trew, VJ Semu, Cameron Bukowski, Hayze Perham, Jett Bryce

Predicted/Best 17

1. Reece Walsh
2. Jesse Arthurs
3. Kotoni Staggs
4. Deine Mariner
5. Selwyn Cobbo
6. Ben Hunt
7. Adam Reynolds (C)
8. Payne Haas
9. Blake Mozer
10. Corey Jensen
11. Brendan Piakura
12. Jordan Riki
13. Patrick Carrigan

14. Billy Walters
15. Kobe Hetherington
16. Xavier Willison
17. Ben Te Kura