It’s been one step forward, two steps back for the Broncos this season as the team faces yet another hurdle.
The reigning premiers have won three games on the trot after a 0-2 start to their title defence caused plenty of concern around the game.
But Saturday night’s victory over the Titans came at a big, big cost.
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Superstar fullback Reece Walsh (facial fracture) and utility playmaker Ben Hunt (knee ligament tear) are facing more than a month on the sidelines, while veteran halfback Adam Reynolds will miss at least one game with a groin injury.
It has decimated Brisbane’s spine and left coach Michael Maguire scrambling for answers.
Maguire will have to name a squad on Tuesday afternoon ahead of a Queensland derby against the Cowboys on Friday night.
He admitted after Saturday night’s game he will have to utilise the full depth of his senior squad.
Adam Reynolds and Reece Walsh are out injured. NRL Imagery
“We’ve got a squad. We all talk about the squad,” he said.
“… You’ve still got to perform, and that’s the expectation that the leaders have and we have as the group.
“We’ve got depth in the club. The clubs work really hard to make sure they have that depth, so we’ll just call upon that.”
When Walsh went down injured on Saturday it was recalled winger Jesse Arthars who slotted in at fullback.
In past years, Selwyn Cobbo would replace Walsh in the No.1, but he headed crosstown to join the Dolphins in the off-season.
Maguire hinted Hayze Perham could be a smokey to play fullback against North Queensland, but Arthars appears the most likely candidate. Deine Mariner is the other left-field option to replace Walsh.
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Jesse Arthars in action. NRL Imagery
It means a wing spot is available. Josiah Karapani was dumped last week after a run-in with police in Fortitude Valley while out celebrating.
If his internal ban is lifted this week he will be able to retake his spot on the wing, or talented rookie Antonio Verhoeven could beat him to it after being called off the bench to replace Arthars on Saturday.
When Reynolds limped off the field against the Titans it seemed obvious that Hunt would be asked to play halfback this week. But he is now out for up to eight weeks with his own injury. Fellow utility playmaker Billy Walters is also sidelined with a long-term knee injury.
It leaves two relative rookies fighting for a spot in the halves.
Tom Duffy, 22, played six games for the Cowboys last year and is in the running to make his Broncos debut against his former team this week.
Tom Duffy has left the Cowboys and joined the Broncos. Getty
But Brisbane also has 29-year-old Josh Rogers on the books. The Perth product is two-time Queensland Cup five-eighth of the year and has already played seven NRL games for the Broncos over the past two years.
But given Ezra Mam has limited experience playing halfback it seems more likely Duffy will be brought in to steer the ship.
Hunt’s bench role will likely be taken by young gun hooker Blake Mozer, who will play his first NRL game in more than a year.
“The Broncos have really got to be tested with depth at the moment,” club great Sam Thaiday told Nine’s Today.
“Three out of their four spine players are out for a big few games coming up… we’re really going to see the character of these players.”
After this week the Broncos face the Tigers, Bulldogs, Roosters, Sea Eagles, and Warriors before having the round 12 bye.