Maguire faces a Broncos first amid injury crisis
Joel Gould |
Brisbane coach Michael Maguire is facing a new selection challenge against North Queensland, with Ben Hunt, Adam Reynolds and Reece Walsh likely to be absent at the same time.
That scenario has not occurred during Maguire’s tenure before.
Hunt missed six games last year with a hamstring injury and Reynolds was out for five, also with a hamstring, but their lay-offs came at different times.
Superstar fullback Walsh was absent from six matches in 2025 – once due to Queensland squad selection and for five rounds with a PCL – but each time he played either Hunt or Reynolds was on hand to feed him quality ball.
Hunt, 36, is out of Friday night’s showdown with the Cowboys after he continued to play with a knee injury in the 26-12 win over Gold Coast on Saturday night. Scans revealed he had a grade three MCL injury and he will miss six to eight weeks.
Reynolds, 35, left the field against the Titans in the 25th minute with a groin tweak and was replaced by Hunt. Scans showed a grade two adductor longus strain. The Broncos said he would face a recovery time of one to two weeks.
Despite the prognosis, Maguire told News Corp late on Monday that Reynolds was aiming to make a miracle recovery to play after the injury settled down. The skipper will try to run at training late on Tuesday, but the Broncos are likely to err on the side of caution.
Walsh is out for four to six weeks with a facial fracture sustained against the Titans.
Ezra Mam will play No.6 against the Cowboys, but utility Billy Walters, who was outstanding in five games as starting No.6 last year, is still unavailable as he makes his way back from an ACL rupture.
The Broncos have only two other recognised halves in their top 30 definitely available. Tom Duffy, 22, has played just six NRL games for the Cowboys in his short career. Josh Rogers, 29, has seven matches for the Broncos to his credit.
Rogers and Duffy are accomplished goal kickers, which is an asset considering Reynolds is the team’s kicker. Walsh is the other.
Centre Kotoni Staggs took over those duties against the Titans but looked rusty and out of practice with his one goal from three attempts.
Rogers, who possess a huge boot, was key to Burleigh’s title triumph in last year’s Queensland Cup and is a big man with a physical presence who can play half or five-eighth. He last played for the Broncos in 2024.
Duffy has been solid for Souths-Logan this year, where he has landed 17 of 19 goal attempts.
Maguire faced an injury crisis last year and his team found a way. Reynolds said they would again as they target a fourth win in a row.
“It speaks volumes of the squad we have got here,” he said.
“We get injuries and players step up and do a fantastic job and we don’t miss a beat.”
Maguire said he had faith in whoever he puts out on the field.
AAP