Seibold in clarion call to Broncos forwards
ANTHONY Seibold has put the blowtorch on Brisbane’s big-name engine room as the Broncos prepare to roll out the hottest crop of young forwards in the NRL.
Monster teenager Payne Haas will make his return from a shoulder reconstruction in Brisbane’s first preseason trial against Souths Logan in Warwick on Saturday.
Alongside Haas will be emerging props Thomas Flegler and Patrick Carrigan, two of the game’s most highly rated young front rowers.
The Broncos have had a steady forward pack in recent years, with Matt Gillett, Alex Glenn and the recently retired Sam Thaiday providing consistent performances.
But no Broncos forward can rest easy in 2019 as Seibold prepares to usher in a new generation of front-row muscle.
Seibold has inherited a Broncos squad blossoming with emerging talent and he has urged Brisbane’s incumbent forwards to step up to the challenge.
“I want to see actions at training and actions in our trial games,” he said.
“The biggest competition for spots is in our forward pack.
“If you look across our middles, a lot of guys are putting their hand up like Matt Lodge, Tevita Pangai, Joe Ofahengaue and some younger guys like Tom Flegler and Pat Carrigan.
“You have some old hard heads like Shaun Fensom and Sam Tagataese.”
Haas only lasted three games in his debut NRL season before needing a shoulder reconstruction but that didn’t stop the Broncos from signing him to a record six-year contract.