WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.<\/p>\n Not one to hand out praise lightly, Haas\u2019s remarkable endorsement is just another sign of how highly rated the teenager is within rugby league circles.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a great young player who\u2019s got a lot of potential and he\u2019s going to be a mainstay in the Broncos\u2019 system for a long time,\u201d Haas told foxsports.com.au. <\/p>\n \u201cI love watching him train and go about his business and he\u2019s a good kid as well.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019ll play Origin in the near future. He\u2019s a future player to watch and a future prospect and I\u2019ve got big wraps on him and I know he\u2019ll do a job in the next few years.\u201d<\/p>\n Brisbane Broncos Tupou Francis (right) has signed a hefty deal with the club and played in this afternoon’s trial match against the South Logan Magpies at Davies Park, West End Picture Zak SimmondsSource: Supplied Source Known<\/p>\n The praise from Haas carries extra weight, given it comes from the man widely regarded as the benchmark for middle forwards in the NRL.<\/p>\n So who is Tupou Francis?<\/p>\n EARLY BEGINNINGS<\/p>\n A product of Marsden State High School, Francis first arrived at the Brisbane Broncos in 2025 on a four-year contract but has had rugby league pumping through his blood since birth.<\/p>\n Not only is he the younger brother of Gold Coast Titans winger Tony Francis, but he also comes from the renowned Hopoate footballing family, which has produced several State of Origin and international representatives over the years.<\/p>\n This has allowed the teenager, who is one of seven siblings, to be immersed in an elite rugby league environment from a young age, strengthening his understanding of the standards required to succeed at the top level.<\/p>\n \u201cMy mum is brothers with John Hopoate. I guess I\u2019m pretty lucky and blessed to have them,\u201d Francis said.<\/p>\n Bailey Trew Xavier Atoa Tupou Francis Saxon Innes Ene Mills Kylem Vunipola Tayshaarn Tonga Boston-Ricks Barnard Javon Andrews Pacific islands football jerseys ahead of a big touch football carnival. Thursday November 3, 2022. Picture, John GassSource: News Corp Australia<\/p>\n \u201cI can sort of fall back on the likes of Will Hopoate, Lehi and all those boys who have played NRL. I\u2019m pretty blessed in my situation.\u201d<\/p>\n While his extended family – aunts, uncles and cousins – have helped provide guidance and support, it is older brother Tony who has had the biggest influence on his rugby league journey.<\/p>\n Although he is only five years older, Tony – who has played ten matches for the Titans since his debut in 2024 – has served as both an inspiration and sounding board for the Broncos forward which has helped increase his development.<\/p>\n \u201cHe definitely looked after me and he\u2019s very big in my life,\u201d Francis continued.<\/p>\n \u201cI was texting him before this (Under-19s Origin match) and he just gives me tips and trick and knows how to deal with everything when there is a lot of pressure on you.\u201d<\/p>\n Cody responds to brain snap | 03:30<\/p>\n HIS RISE & REPLACING PAYNE HAAS<\/p>\n Recently turning 18, Francis has had a remarkable rise through the Broncos system since he first arrived.<\/p>\n Standing at an impressive 183cm and 101kg, the powerful lock already boasts the frame to handle the demands of first-grade and in the past 18 months his consistent form and rapid development has fast-tracked his progression at Red Hill.<\/p>\n This rise has included leading the Burleigh Bears to the Under-19s Mal Meninga Cup, being named in the Under-17s QLD City and Under-19s QLD Maroon squads and making his QLD Cup reserve-grade debut.<\/p>\n Drawing comparisons to Australian Kangaroos captain Isaah Yeo in the process, Francis had been granted permission by the Broncos to speak with rival teams.<\/p>\n While the club slapped a $250,000 price tag on his release, it did little to deter rivals club who continued to monitor his progress closely.<\/p>\n It is understood that the Canberra Raiders and South Sydney Rabbitohs were just two of multiple clubs that weighed up a potential move for him.<\/p>\n Tupou Francis. Connell Cup Grand Final, Burleigh Bears V Mackay Cutters played at Totally Workwear Stadium, Greenslopes, Brisbane. Photos by Stephen ArcherSource: Supplied<\/p>\n However, he ultimately recommitted to the Broncos on a deal worth around $600,000 a season, which will see him promoted to the Top 30 roster from next season.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me to have Patty, Payne and Xavier there, they\u2019re big role models for my life,\u201d Francis said.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery day I try to go in and whether that\u2019s building on the field or off the field, I just try to get to know them and take tips and tricks as much as I can.\u201d<\/p>\n Continuing to develop his craft as a forward, Francis has been identified as a possible successor to Payne Haas in the Broncos forward pack with the representative prop departing at the end of this year\u2019s campaign to link up with the Rabbitohs.<\/p>\n While replacing one of the NRL\u2019s premier forwards is no easy task, those within the four walls at the Broncos believe he possesses the potential, size and work ethic to be the perfect replacement for Haas.<\/p>\n Panthers punish Souths for brain snap | 04:13<\/p>\n The young gun, however, is taking a measured approach to his development and is just focused on making his NRL debut.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s everything as a kid (to make my NRL debut). This is why you play the game of footy to be in this arena,\u201d Francis said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou put so much effort and hard work and you sacrifice so much. (Not only me but my) parents, family, everyone. It\u2019s sort of to reward them and to reward yourself as well.\u201d<\/p>\n While that is his short-term goal, his long-term ambition is to push for a regular spot in the first-grade line-up.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s sort of to be anywhere in that 19. I\u2019ll be grateful to be anywhere but I\u2019ll take it step by step, week by week and see where we can go,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll focus on pre-season when we get there and we\u2019ll see where it takes us.\u201d<\/p>\n Hayden Watson, Cody Goulter and Tupou Francis.Source: News Corp Australia<\/p>\n THE REPRESENTATIVE DILEMMA<\/p>\n While his NRL career is only just at the beginning, one of the more intriguing storylines surrounding Francis\u2019 rise is his State of Origin eligibility.<\/p>\n Unlike many of his peers, the youngster has the rare luxury of potentially choosing between New South Wales and Queensland, having been born in Sydney before moving to Brisbane at the age of 12.<\/p>\n Under the current Origin eligibility rules, Francis qualifies for both states but he has already made it clear where his heart lies.<\/p>\n \u201cIt means the world to me (to represent Queensland Maroons),\u201d Francis said.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, moved up here when I was 12, so I had the choice to pick, and since I\u2019ve been here, I\u2019ve loved it.\u201d<\/p>\n While the decision to represent the Maroons was an easy one for Francis, it has become a regular source of banter among his Broncos teammates, particularly NSW Blues star Payne Haas.<\/p>\n \u201cI actually give him stick about it, to be honest,\u201d Haas added.<\/p>\n \u201cHe lived 12 years in New South Wales and he plays for Queensland. I don\u2019t get it, but all his family wore blue at the game.\u201d<\/p>\n ‘To Put it Mildly’ + Ivan on spine swap | 06:22<\/p>\n Although he has decided on which state he wants to represent, the Under-19s Maroons forward is yet to settle on his international allegiance.<\/p>\n The youngster revealed he is eligible to represent five nations at Test level – Australia, Fiji, France, Lebanon and Tonga – meaning another significant decision awaits as his career progresses.<\/p>\n For now, however, Francis is in no rush to make that call, but foxsports.com.au understands that he will represent Lebanon at the upcoming 2026 Rugby League World Cup.<\/p>\n \u201cHe [Lebanon head coach Michael Cheika] called me over the phone and he did say he\u2019s looking out for me to play for Lebanon,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know if it\u2019s confirmed yet, but I\u2019ll put my hand up if that does happen for both (Lebanon and Tonga). <\/p>\n \u201cI grew up sort of on both sides, so it\u2019s pretty even, so I don\u2019t mind who I represent, but whoever calls first.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I can represent my dad\u2019s side, I will, but also my Tongan side as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Tupou Francis Langer Trophy rugby league launch. Tuesday May 27, 2025. Picture, John GassSource: News Corp Australia<\/p>\n Set to represent Lebanon at the RLWC, Francis had the opportunity to train with Tonga at the end of last year during the 2025 Pacific Championships.<\/p>\n Receiving the opportunity through his uncle, he was one of a handful of emerging players invited into camp alongside Antonio Verhoeven, David Bryenton and Lenton Steven Funaki.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was definitely a massive experience and I enjoyed every bit of it,\u201d Francis said.<\/p>\n \u201cI was lucky enough my uncle John (Hopoate) called me saying \u2018Do you want to come into camp and train with the boys? I\u2019m not going to say no to that.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was something I\u2019ll always remember.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Brisbane Broncos have no shortage of young talent coming through their ranks, but few have generated as…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":777465,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[568],"tags":[64,63,761,762,158,85],"class_list":["post-777539","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nrl","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-national-rugby-league","tag-nationalrugbyleague","tag-nrl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/777539","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=777539"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/777539\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/777465"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=777539"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=777539"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=777539"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
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