NRL great Greg Alexander has agreed Broncos coach Michael Maguire could look to haul off his best players in the World Club Challenge if they build a lead against the Super League champs. The Broncos are set to take on Super League winners Hull KR on Friday morning, Australian time, having travelled over with one mission and that is to win their first trophy of the year.
However, there are suggestions the Brisbane Broncos might have one eye on round one of the NRL when they take on the Penrith Panthers. This is an extremely tough start to the season for the premiers who will be doing their share of travel before it kicks-off.
NRL great Greg Alexander has agreed Reece Walsh (pictured right) and the likes of Payne Haas could get a spell on the sidelines if the Broncos take a lead against Hull KR in the World Club Challenge. (Images: Getty Images)
And if the Broncos take a lead against their English opponents on Friday, SEN Radio host Jimmy Smith suggested it wouldn’t shock him to see Maguire interchange the likes of Payne Haas, Adam Reynolds and Walsh. Penrith legend Alexander, who has played in a WCC, agreed it could very well be a possibility if things go their way.
“We anticipate a Broncos victory, and a pretty solid, but just be careful because if they are in a comfortable lead, and coach Michael Maguire goes, ‘well we have a whole NRL season to come. Payne Haas you come off, Reynolds, Reece that’s enough from you.’ That is something to consider,” Smith said on Thursday.
Alexander agreed. “That’s right, then they the Panthers at Suncorp Stadium in round one,” he added, before talking about how long the season is for defending champions. The Broncos are heavy favourites heading into the match considering Hull KR’s recent performance against the York Knights.
Hull KR played their first game of the season against the newly promoted side, but went down in a shock 19-18 loss. After Walsh’s recent efforts in England for Australia during the Ashes, many are expecting the Broncos to be way too strong for Hull KR.
However, Aussie teams haven’t had much success in recent years against their English opponents. In the last challenge the Wigan Warriors defeated Nathan Cleary’s Penrith side back in 2024. Although Maguire and Ben Hunt have both expressed the team’s desire to start their season on a high and take the trophy back to Australia.
Michael Maguire withholds team list for WCC
Maguire opted not to follow Hull KR’s lead and withheld his team list on Wednesday, which surprised some Broncos fans. But giving an insight into the team, Hunt hinted to 4BC Breakfast Radio he won’t be starting on Friday and will come off the bench. This means either Corey Paix or young talent Blake Mozer will get the nod. Paix started in the NRL grand final at No.9 with Hunt at five-eighth.
“I’m just laying up in the room, trying to stay warm … I think it was one degree here today and felt like minus two or something like that,” Hunt said on Wednesday. “I actually said to Madge [Michael Maguire], because I’m coming off the bench, that I’m gonna be up in the dressing room and send me a radio call when you need me to go on.”
Reece Walsh (pictured) and the Broncos are going in as favourites against Hull KR.
(Bradley Kanaris via Getty Images)