The Brisbane Broncos have suffered a major injury blow ahead of the new NRL season, with premiership winner Brendan Piakura set to be sidelined for at least eight weeks after knee surgery. While the Cowboys have strengthened their stocks at hooker with the key signing of the former Panthers star, Soni Luke.
Broncos edge forward Piakura had to undergo surgery after suffering a meniscus tear in pre-season training with Michael Maguire’s side. The club’s medical staff have forecast an eight-week recovery for the 23-year-old meaning he’s set to miss Brisbane’s World Club Challenge showdown against English champions Hull KR in February, as well as the start of the new NRL season.
Todd Payten’s (L) Cowboys have signed former Panthers hooker Soni Luke, while Broncos star Brendan Piakura (middle row, second from right) has been ruled out for eight weeks. Pic: Getty
The Broncos travel to England on February 10 to prepare for the clash with Hull KR 10 days later. And Piakura’s absence will come as a blow after his strong form for Brisbane last season. The back-rower’s defence and ability to hit holes in attack were a feature in Piakura’s game last season, and he played a key part in their grand final triumph.
Bench forward Xavier Willison is among several contenders to cement the other edge spot alongside Jordan Riki after starting six of his 51 games for the Broncos in the back-row. But Maguire found success using Willison through the middle during a breakout 2025 season for the towering forward, who was also part of New Zealand’s Pacific Cup triumph.
Jack Gosiewski or Jaiyden Hunt are more like-for-like replacements for Piakura and have often done the job for Brisbane when called upon. Neither were part of Brisbane’s grand final side though. There are also some opportunities for the likes of Ben Te Kura, Ben Talty and Aublix Tawha to vie for bench roles, following the departures of Kobe Hetherington (Manly) and Tyson Smoothy (Wakefield Trinity) at the end of last season.
Cowboys hand former Panthers hooker Soni Luke a lifeline
Meantime, North Queensland have handed former Penrith hooker Luke a lifeline after he was one of several players cut by the Panthers at the end of last season. Luke’s solid form for Tonga in the Pacific Championships was enough to convince Todd Payten’s Cowboys to sign the former Penrith schemer, giving them much-needed depth at hooker alongside new recruit Reed Mahoney.
The Cowboys have signed Tonga international and former Penrith Panthers star Soni Luke ahead of the new NRL season. Pic: Getty
(Hannah Peters via Getty Images)
Luke had initially signed a NSW Cup deal with South Sydney but the Cowboys have most fast to snap up the 29-year-old. Luke spent the past four seasons at the Panthers during the club’s most dominant era but found opportunities limited to crack into their star-studded squad after making 26 first-grade appearances over that time.
The former Panther has proven himself as a capable understudy and is expected to be Mahoney’s back-up at hooker. He also offers the Cowboys cover and competition in a key position and brings experience from a premiership-winning powerhouse and at international level, which could be invaluable at the Cowboys in 2026.
with AAP