Young gun clear to start
Broncos talent ‘ready to go’ in Vegas
Explosive back-rower Brendan Piakura has declared himself a certain starter as the Broncos prepare to unleash their hardhitting version of Sonny Bill Williams against the Roosters in Las Vegas on Sunday.
The Broncos received a huge boost on Tuesday with Piakura (knee) cleared to take his place in the starting side for Brisbane’s US premiership opener at Vegas’s Allegiant Stadium.
Piakura appeared at long odds to appear in round 1 after the back-row young gun suffered MCL damage in his brilliant two-try haul in a trial defeat of the Cowboys a fortnight ago. But the Cook Islands Test star has made a stunning recovery, running strongly at Brisbane’s last two training sessions to ensure he will replace Warriors recruit Kurt Capewell on the Broncos’ left edge.
While Piakura has had his left knee heavily strapped for the past week, the 21-year-old is confident his minor MCL sprain will hold up to a physical showdown with the Roosters’ big boppers.
“It was just a scratch, I’m a fast healer,” Piakura said with a wry grin.
“The knee is looking good. I’m ready to go. When I first did it doubt came into my head, but we have great physios here who look after me and have got me to where I am now.
“Everything is looking good now.”
While Piakura has played just 15 NRL games, the Broncos view the hulking back-rower as something special.
Such was the Queensland under-18s representative’s talent, he was offered a $1.2m, three-year deal by the Bulldogs in 2021 before he had played a single minute of NRL.
Then-Canterbury coach Trent Barrett believed Piakura was all but headed for Belmore, but newly appointed Broncos coach Kevin Walters worked his magic, taking Piakura on a tour of Suncorp Stadium and selling him the Broncos dream.
Piakura rejected the Bulldogs and after two years of frustrated setbacks with injuries, he began to justify Brisbane’s investment last season, clinching a bench spot in their grand-final loss to Penrith.
Growing up, Piakura idolised NRL legend Williams.
There is a similarly intimidating edge to the Australian Schoolboys ace.
At 189cm and 102kg, Piakura can cut blokes in half in defence and he underlined his penetration in attack in the recent Cowboys trial with precision tackle-busting, line running that evoked memories of Williams in his pomp.
“My dad was my hero, but in terms of an NRL player, probably Sonny Bill (was his idol),” he said. “I used to play lock as well so Corey Parker (former Broncos skipper) and Sonny Bill were the two main guys.
“I met Sonny Bill when we went to Sydney and I have never been so starstruck in my life.” Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds believes Piakura can be Brisbane’s breakout star this season.
“He is dangerous and when he is playing footy, we are going better,” he said.