Baker’s bid to nail down a Broncos role
Brisbane is set for front-row fireworks with monster Roosters recruit Fletcher Baker to be unleashed for his Broncos debut in the battle to partner Payne Haas in Las Vegas.
The Broncos’ major off-season purchase, the hulking 107kg Baker will appear for the first time in Brisbane colours in their NRL pre-season challenge trial against the Cowboys in Mackay on Sunday.
The front row is Brisbane’s most contentious area ahead of the club’s historic premiership opener against the Roosters in Sin City on Sunday, March 3 (AEST).
Baker is locked in a fourway scrap to join superstar Haas in the engine room, with Corey Jensen, Martin Taupau and young gun Xavier Willison eyeing the No.8 jumper vacated by Tom Flegler’s defection to the Dolphins.
The Broncos are banking on Baker to add some Fleglerstyle size and mongrel to their pack and the raw-boned 24year-old gets a golden chance to flex his muscle against the Cowboys.
Baker will come off the bench against the Cowboys at Mackay Stadium and former Broncos captain Corey Parker backed the 194cm brute to fill the Flegler void.
“This is a great chance for Baker to impress,” said 347game club legend Parker.
“From what I have seen of him, I have no doubt he has what it takes to replace Tom Flegler. His first opportunity comes this week. Footy is about opportunities and taking them when they come.
“Maybe Fletcher wasn’t getting the right opportunities at the Roosters, but there’s a great opportunity for him to be a starting front-rower this year at the Broncos and I see no reason why he can’t do it.”
Willison made a strong statement in last week’s 26-16 trial defeat of Wynnum Manly and the 11-game rookie can submit another compelling claim for the Maori team in Friday night’s Indigenous All Stars clash in Townsville.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters is keeping his front-row aspirants on their toes, saying Baker and Willison are right in the mix to lead a new era for Brisbane’s engine room.
“We have high expectations for Xavier this year,” Walters said.
“We have spent a lot of time working on his game.
“He will be in the All Stars game so that will be another step up for him from a physical point of view, and then we will look at Xavier for Vegas.”