Aublix Tawha has emerged as a smokey to fill the Broncos’ vacant starting second-row spot, after Brendan Piakura underwent surgery to fix a knee issue. Piakura is set to be sidelined for eight weeks, and will miss the World Club Challenge in England against Hull and the opening rounds of the NRL season.
The Broncos used Jack Gosiewski as a starting second-rower to begin 2025, while Xavier Willison spent some time in the back-row under previous coach Kevin Walters. But Willison is more of a front-rower, and Gosiewsk has been plagued by injuries over his career.
Enter Aublix. The 26-year-old played nine games for the Dolphins in 2026 before signing with their Brisbane rival Broncos.
Aublix Tawha (L) could find himself starting for the Broncos after switching from the Dolphins. Image: Getty
Tawha can play prop or second row and trained on the edge at Red Hill last week. It appeared to be a massive clue that Tawha might be starting in the back-row in the World Club Challenge on February 20.
“Obs (Tawha) is a massive candidate to come with us and has definitely put himself in the picture to be able to be on the plane,” Broncos coach Michael Maguire told AAP on Friday. “He’s been excellent and came into the pre-season flying.
“I have been super-impressed and it is not just myself. It is everyone, just with the way he gone about his professionalism. His will to want to learn has been really impressive and he is asking questions of the coaches and players. He is giving himself one hell of an opportunity to be ready to go for the start of the season.”
Aublix Tawha has been training at second-row for the Broncos.
(PR IMAGE)Broncos recruit compared to legendary Ruben Wiki
Maguire insisted he hasn’t made a decision yet on who will partner Jordan Riki as the starting second-rowers. “Brendan will be out for a while and I’ve obviously got to look at the bodies,” he said. “Jack Gosiewski will be back (training) next week and we have also got Jaiyden Hunt.”
Regardless of whether he starts or not, Tawha will likely get plenty of first-grade opportunities in 2026. “He’s probably following a bit of Ruben Wiki’s career. He started in the centres and moved further into the middle and he had a fair career,” Maguire said.
“I think Obs has a lot of opportunity in front of him. I am really pleased with the way he goes about things.”
with AAP