Brisbane Broncos Set for Major Roster Changes
The Brisbane Broncos are preparing for a significant shift in their lineup as they face an injury and suspension crisis. This situation could lead to 20-year-old hooker Cameron Bukowski making his NRL debut. The club is currently dealing with several key players being sidelined, which has forced coach Michael Maguire to consider younger talent.
Bukowski recently trained at No.9 for the Broncos’ first-grade squad on Monday. However, the club expects starting hooker Cory Paix to be available for the upcoming match against the Wests Tigers. Paix was ruled out of the previous game due to a Category 1 concussion, which typically would prevent him from playing. Despite this, the Broncos have applied for an exemption, arguing that the injury shouldn’t be classified as Category 1.
Even if Paix is allowed to play, it’s likely that Bukowski will be included on the bench. Ben Hunt is currently sidelined with a knee injury, while Blake Mozer suffered a fractured jaw in his first NRL game since 2024. Billy Walters is also not ready to return, creating an opportunity for Bukowski to step into the role.
“Cam’s been battling away and fighting and working hard in the background at training, so an opportunity might be around the corner for him,” Maguire said after the Broncos’ loss to the Cowboys. “In the middle you’re obviously going to get targeted, but he gets a pretty good apprenticeship with Payno [Payne Haas] and Xavier Willison – big boys who are running at him.”
Adam Reynolds trained on Monday and looks set to return, but Reece Walsh is still out with a fractured eye socket. Aublix Tawha suffered a similar injury in the Queensland Cup last week, while Patrick Carrigan has received a two-game suspension for a high tackle.
Melbourne Storm Faces Uncertain Future
Meanwhile, the Melbourne Storm are under pressure after four consecutive losses. Coach Craig Bellamy has vowed to make changes following their recent defeat. The Storm sit 13th on the table heading into Round 7 against Canberra. After being beaten by the Warriors, Bellamy emphasized the need for a review and necessary adjustments.
“I think we all have got to take responsibility and if there’s people not doing their jobs properly, well we need to make changes,” Bellamy said. “And that’s with staff as well as players, so it doesn’t matter how old they are or young they are or whatever. We just need to get it right. We just need to make a few changes without a doubt and go from there.”
Joe Chan appears to be in contention after a half-time intervention from Bellamy. Cooper Clarke has been performing well on the edge, while Shawn Blore and Ativalu Lisati are nearing returns from injury. Moses Leo could also be at risk of being dropped, with young talents Hugo Peel and former Raider Manaia Waitere in line for selection.
Other Teams Making Adjustments
Elsewhere, the Wests Tigers and Newcastle Knights are expected to welcome back star halves Jarome Luai and Dylan Brown. These returns could provide a much-needed boost to their respective teams.
As the season progresses, both the Broncos and Storm will need to adapt quickly to their current challenges. With injuries and suspensions affecting their rosters, the focus will be on developing young talent and making strategic decisions to improve performance on the field.
