Broncos Target Eels’ Future Star Pezet in Thursday Night Clash
As the Brisbane Broncos prepare to face the Parramatta Eels on Thursday night, all eyes will be on young playmaker Jonah Pezet. While Pezet is widely tipped to be the long-term successor to Broncos legend Adam Reynolds when he joins the club next year, this week he’ll be on the wrong side of the ledger. The Broncos are reportedly planning to target Pezet relentlessly, with forward Jordan Riki expected to be sent his way repeatedly as Brisbane seeks to rebound from a disappointing opening round loss.
The opening round saw the Broncos fail to register a single point against a dominant Penrith outfit. Similarly, Pezet’s current Eels side was thoroughly outplayed by the Melbourne Storm, who ran in nine tries, with Harry Grant exploiting gaps through the middle. Riki will be directly opposing Pezet on Thursday, with hard-hitting centre Kotoni Staggs positioned outside him, indicating a clear strategy from the Broncos to attack that edge of the field.
“I watched that game, and they were sending some traffic down to him,” Staggs commented about Pezet’s performance against the Storm. “I think we won’t change that and we’ll probably put Riki on him and make him make tackles. I think we can get some joy down that edge.”
The Storm indeed put significant pressure on Pezet, forcing him to make 21 tackles and miss two. Melbourne forward Joe Chan was a powerhouse in that match, amassing 198 metres and a try from 16 carries, and even managed to force an error from his former teammate. Pezet’s move to the Eels is a one-year stint before he joins Brisbane on a long-term deal, but Staggs insists the focus remains firmly on the present. “We have him next year, but that’s next year,” Staggs stated. “We’ve got to focus on this year now. He’s a Parramatta Eel so we’ll try to play our game against him.”
This round two encounter shapes up as a crucial must-win game for both teams, as both are coming off comprehensive defeats where they were outplayed by their opposition.
Broncos Seek to Overcome Premiership Hangover
Brisbane’s premiership defence began in a dismal fashion with a 26-0 shutout against the reigning premiers, Penrith. Their performance was marred by just 62 per cent completion rate, sparking fears of a post-premiership hangover. These concerns have been amplified by Payne Haas’s decision to sign with Souths next year and a surprising loss to Hull KR in the World Club Challenge.
When questioned about a potential premiership hangover, Staggs was adamant. “Not at all,” he replied. “They were better on the night and we just didn’t play our game. It was round one and we’ll get better from that and we’ll learn from this game going onwards. It’s only early days. In the past we’ve been beaten and teams always come after us, but it doesn’t change the way we need to go about things. We just need to focus on what we can do in this building and on the field. We’ll watch the game in review and see what we can fix and do better.”
Ex-Tigers Star Confirms Super League Switch
The Wests Tigers have officially confirmed the departure of utility player Jack Bird, with the versatile 30-year-old securing a new opportunity in the Super League. Leeds Rhinos announced Bird’s signing on a two-year contract last month, but the Tigers were awaiting the NRL’s official confirmation of his release. The club stated the decision was made by mutual agreement.
Bird expressed his excitement about joining Leeds Rhinos, highlighting the club’s stature and passionate fanbase. “I’m really excited to be joining Leeds Rhinos. It’s a huge club with a proud history and a passionate supporter base,” Bird commented. “I know a few of the boys; Brodie Croft and Keenan Palasia could not speak more highly of the club and I can’t wait to get stuck in… I have heard so much about how great the atmosphere is and I’m looking forward to experiencing it for myself and then getting stuck into to training over the next couple of weeks.”
Head coach Brad Arthur believes Bird will be a valuable asset for the Rhinos, praising his toughness, professionalism, and football intelligence. “He’s competed at the top level and understands what it takes to prepare and perform week in, week out,” Arthur added.
Pre-Season Commitment Fuels Sharks Star’s Statement Performance
Cronulla Sharks five-eighth Braydon Trindall and coach Craig Fitzgibbon were hesitant to declare his performance against the Titans as his best for the club, but both agreed that his combination with Nicho Hynes was the most effective it has ever looked. While teams often take time to find their rhythm at the start of a new season, the Sharks pairing displayed remarkable cohesion, a testament to a strong pre-season together and their involvement in the All Stars game.
Both Trindall and Hynes scored doubles in the dominant 50-10 victory, with Trindall also contributing four try assists and a well-executed 40/20 kick. “It’s probably the best it’s ever felt with Nicho,” Trindall stated post-match. “We do work hard at it behind closed doors and at training and even off the field when we catch up. We try to stay as connected as we can, and it comes out on the field.”
Although Trindall wore the number six jersey, he appeared to be the primary attacking playmaker. Fitzgibbon explained this was a continuation of their existing strategy, but now with improved execution. “It’s not any different to what we’ve always done,” he said. “The only thing I’d say is that they’re getting better at it. We want to work on if there are six agains and a lot of ball in midfield, then Hynes is on the ball because he’s a runner, so get him on the ball. It’s not complicated. And then if we get the opportunity to set things up, then we’ll get ‘Tricky’ (Trindall) on the ball. But if Hynes is ahead of Tricky, then there’s not really any right or wrong (answer). We’ve been working on that for a number of years. Tricky knew when to go and he was amazing.”
The pair’s synergy was evident in a well-crafted try late in the first half, initiated by Hynes’s movement behind the ruck. Trindall attributed his outstanding round one form to a deliberately more intense pre-season. “I came back in probably the best shape I’ve ever come back for a pre-season,” he explained. “I think that’s why I’m as fit as I am. I worked really hard during the pre-season to get as fit as I could. I just trained more in the off-season. I’ve always left it to the last minute in recent years and have come back in not good nick. Maturing a bit (prompted that). Wanting to be better for the boys and the playing group (is why I did it).”
Following their impressive 50-point haul, the Sharks face a significantly sterner test against the Panthers, who made a strong statement by shutting out the Broncos in their opening match. Penrith eliminated the Sharks in the 2024 preliminary final, just as the Storm had done to them the previous year. The sting of these defeats is a powerful motivator for the Sharks this season, and Trindall and his teammates are ready for the challenge of facing Nathan Cleary and his Penrith side.
“It’s a massive factor in motivating this playing group,” Trindall stated. “We worked hard in the off-season, but at the end of the day, it’s just one game, so we’ve got to keep building throughout the year. I love the battle and coming up against players like (Cleary), so it should be fun. We’ve just got to get the prep right during the week and then go to Bathurst to play.”
