Billy Slater has weighed in on the Broncos injury crisis, revealing the man he believes should wear the No.6 jersey moving forward.
One of the premiership contenders were dealt a horror triple blow last week when Adam Reynolds, Ezra Mam and Selwyn Cobbo all limped off with hamstring injuries.
Reynolds could be back in time for finals – assuming Brisbane make the top eight – while both Mam and Cobbo appear unlikely to feature again this year.
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The positive news for coach Michael Maguire is that there are plenty of options at his disposal to replace the injured trio for this weekend’s clash with the Dolphins.
Speaking on Nine’s The Billy Slater Podcast, the champion fullback was quizzed about which way he would lean for the crucial fixture at Suncorp Stadium.
Adam Reynolds, Selwyn Cobbo and Ezra Mam are all injured Getty
“I’ve got Walsh at fullback, Ben Hunt and Billy Walters in the halves, Cory Paix at No.9 and Tyson Smoothy can play off the bench,” Slater said.
“That’s still a quality key position unit. I haven’t got huge concerns. It’s not as bad as it may seem, they have got a little bit of depth in those positions … they can cover it.
“The other big omission for me is Xavier Willison, he broke his arm last week – that will put a whole heap of added pressure on Pat Carrigan and Payne Haas.”
Slater didn’t mention young gun Coby Black, who has been tipped as the club’s long-term halfback successor to Reynolds.
Picking the 19-year-old in games that will have a significant bearing on the Broncos’ top eight hopes would be a huge gamble that most pundits are warning Maguire against.
Elsewhere, the red-hot Roosters will be without one of their young stars for another must-win game, while the Warriors have been dealt another cruel setback.
Here’s all the early mail ahead of round 24.
THURSDAY
Penrith Panthers vs Melbourne Storm, CommBank Stadium (7.50pm)
Jack Howarth NRL Imagery
Panthers predicted team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To’o 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Luke Garner 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaiah Papali’i 14. Brad Schneider 15. Liam Henry 16. Matt Eisenhuth 17. Scott Sorensen
Panthers team news: No changes flagged at this stage. The status of captain Isaah Yeo (shoulder) remains unclear, but there is a chance Penrith bring him back this week.
Storm predicted team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Grant Anderson 3. Joe Chan 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Tyran Wishart 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Jonah Pezet 15. Ativalu Lisati 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Bronson Garlick
Storm team news: Jack Howarth (groin) was a late omission last week and will be sidelined again, with Joe Chan expected to be named at centre. Nelson Asofa-Solomona played reserve grade and could be a chance of earning a recall.
Watch the 2025 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.
FRIDAY
New Zealand Warriors vs St George Illawarra Dragons, Go Media Stadium (6pm)
Hayden Buchanan scores on debut Getty
Warriors predicted team: 1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Adam Pompey 4. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Tanah Boyd 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Samuel Healey 10. Jackson Ford 11. Leka Halasima 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Erin Clark 14. Freddy Lussick 15. Demitric Vaimauga 16. Marata Niukore 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith
Warriors team news: Te Maire Martin (head knock) was a late call-up in the halves last weekend, but will now be forced to sit out and open the door for Tanah Boyd’s return.
Dragons predicted team: 1. Clint Gutherson 2. Tyrell Sloan 3. Mat Feagai 4. Hayden Buchanan 5. Corey Allan 6. Lyhkan King-Togia 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Emre Guler 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jacob Halangahu 13. Jack de Belin 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Hamish Stewart 16. Hame Sele 17. Blake Lawrie
Warriors team news: Hayden Buchanan and Jacob Halangahu both made successful debuts against Cronulla and should retain their spots, with the latter a chance of starting in the back-row. Mat Feagai (groin) could return in the backline in place of the injured Moses Suli (knee).
Sydney Roosters vs Canterbury Bulldogs, Allianz Stadium (8pm)
Roosters predicted team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Hugo Savala 7. Sam Walker 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Connor Watson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Salesi Foketi 13. Victor Radley 14. Benaiah Ioelu 15. Egan Butcher 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Blake Steep
Roosters team news: Siua Wong (concussion) will be sidelined for at least a week, which will likely see Salesi Foketi start in the back-row and Blake Steep join the bench.
Bulldogs predicted team: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Enari Tuala 6. Matt Burton 7. Lachlan Galvin 8. Max King 9. Bailey Hayward 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Kurt Mann 15. Harry Hayes 16. Josh Curran 17. Reed Mahoney
Bulldogs team news: Connor Tracey (abdomen) looks set to return at fullback, pushing Jacob Kiraz to the wing and Jethro Rinakama out. Reed Mahoney was dropped to the bench last weekend and will likely stay there moving forward.
SATURDAY
Cronulla Sharks vs Gold Coast Titans, Shark Park (3pm)
Sharks predicted team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Braden Hamlin-Uele 11. Billy Burns 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cam McInnes 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Toby Rudolf 16. Thomas Hazelton 17. Jesse Colquhuon
Sharks team news: Jesse Colquhuon (suspension) will likely return on the bench, with Briton Nikora (suspension) set to miss the next three games. Craig Fitzgibbon may look to make other changes, with the likes of Sam Stonestreet and Hohepa Puru in the mix.
Titans predicted team: 1. AJ Brimson 2. Jaylan De Groot 3. Phillip Sami 4. Jojo Fifita 5. Tony Francis 6. Kieran Foran 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Jaimin Jolliffe 11. Chris Randall 12. Beau Fermor 13. Klese Haas 14. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 15. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 16. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 17. Josh Patston
Titans team news: Alofiana Khan-Pereira (hamstring) and Brian Kelly (head knock) are both set to be ruled out, with Phillip Sami (concusion) and Tony Francis looming as the likely replacements out wide. Moeaki Fotuaika (illness) was a late omission in round 23 but should be back on deck in the front-row for Gold Coast.
Brisbane Broncos vs Dolphins, Suncorp Stadium (5.30pm)
Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam both suffered hamstring injuries Nine
Broncos predicted team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Deine Mariner 6. Billy Walters 7. Ben Hunt 8. Corey Jensen 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Jack Gosiewski 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Ben Talty 17. Jaiyden Hunt
Broncos team news: Ezra Mam, Adam Reynolds and Selwyn Cobbo will all be sidelined with hamstring injuries in a massive blow. Ben Hunt will wear the No.7 jumper and will likely be partnered by either Billy Walters or Jock Madden in the halves. Jesse Arthars and Josiah Karapani are the two options to replace Cobbo on the wing.
Dolphins predicted team: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Max Feagai 4. Tevita Naufahu 5. Jake Averillo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Josh Kerr 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Oryn Keeley 13. Kurt Donoghoe 14. Ray Stone 15. Aublix Tawha 16. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 17. Peter Hola
Dolphins team news: Francis Molo (suspension) will be ruled out, which should see Josh Kerr move into the starting side. No other changes flagged at this stage despite the horror loss against the Roosters.
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Parramatta Eels, Allianz Stadium (7.35pm)
Latrell Mitchell Getty
Rabbitohs predicted team: 1. Jye Gray 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Latrell Mitchell 5. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 6. Ashton Ward 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Siliva Havili 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Sean Keppie 11. Euan Aitken 12. Tallis Duncan. 13. Jai Arrow 14. Brandon Smith 15. Lachlan Hubner 16. Liam Le Blanc 17. Thomas Fletcher
Rabbitohs team news: No changes flagged at this stage after a drought-breaking win.
Eels predicted team: 1. Joash Papali’i 2. Zac Lomax 3. Will Penisini 4. Dylan Brown 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Dean Hawkins 7. Mitchell Moses 8. J’maine Hopgood 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Charlie Guymer 12. Jack Williams 13. Dylan Walker 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Luca Moretti 16. Matt Doorey 17. Kelma Tuilagi
Eels team news: No changes flagged to the side that defeated the Cowboys.
SUNDAY
Wests Tigers vs Manly Sea Eagles, Allianz Stadium (2pm)
Tigers predicted team: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Taylan May 4. Starford To’a 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Jarome Luai 7. Latu Fainu 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Alex Twal 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Adam Doueihi 14. Sione Fainu 15. Royce Hunt 16. Fonua Pole 17. Tony Sukkar
Tigers team news: No changes expected after the side’s round 23 bye.
Sea Eagles predicted team: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Tommy Talau 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Matthew Lodge 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Corey Waddell 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jazz Tevaga 14. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 15. Michael Chee Kam 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Toafofoa Sipley
Sea Eagles team news: Jake Trbojevic (concussion) will be unavailable, which could see Jazz Tevaga switch to lock and Jake Simpkin start at hooker. Ben Trbojevic (concussion) should return in the back-row. Lehi Hopoate (shoulder) could also be in line for a return.
North Queensland Cowboys vs Newcastle Knights, QCB Stadium (4.05pm)
Cowboys predicted team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Semi Valemei 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Jaxon Purdue 5. Braidon Burns 6. Jake Clifford 7. Tom Dearden 8. Harrison Edwards 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. John Bateman 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Marly Bitungane 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Kai O’Donnell 17. Kaiden Lahrs
Cowboys team news: Coen Hess (suspension) is facing a lengthy ban for a dangerous tackle against the Eels and will be unavailable.
Knights predicted team: 1. Dane Gagai 2. Dominic Young 3. Fletcher Hunt 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Jake Arthur 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Jermaine McEwen 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Tyson Frizell 14. Thomas Cant 15. Mathew Croker 16. Elijah Leaumoana 17. Jack Hetherington
Knights team news: Phoenix Crossland (head knock) looks set to be ruled out, with Tyson Frizell likely starting at lock this week.