The Broncos have reinforced their forward pack by announcing two extensions, locking up young gun VJ Semu and veteran Preston Riki.

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Semu, who is a product of the Broncos’ Academy and made his NRL debut against the Bulldogs in Round 8, will be staying put at Red Hill until the end of the 2028 season.

Riki, meanwhile, has been a valuable depth piece for the Broncos after signing with the club on a train and trial contract during the 2026 pre-season.

“I’ve loved every minute of being here,” Riki said.

“I’m grateful to the playing group and to Madge for putting trust in me and giving me the confidence to become the best player I can be.

“I’m thankful he gave me an opportunity to come to the Broncos and spend the next two years here.

“I hope I can repay the Club for what they’ve given me.”

Semu said he is hoping to become a “reliable” option in the forward pack for the years to come.

“I’m grateful to the Broncos for what they have given me over the past five years,” he said.

“Not only have they helped me develop as a player, but more importantly the Club’s culture has made me a better person off the field.

“I’m excited to see what the next two years have in store.

“I want to continue learning off the older boys, play consistent NRL and gain experience so I can be a reliable forward for the club moving forward.”

‘Scary thing’: Maroons support Arrow | 03:18

ATKINSON SHOOTS DOWN HALVES NARRATIVE

Dragons playmaker Daniel Atkinson has downplayed the narrative that he joined the club to play halfback as a potentially huge selection headache looms in 2027 following the shock signing of Luke Metcalf.

The speedster will join the Red V on a three-year deal after seemingly falling out of favour with the Warriors despite being one of the best players in the NRL last season before a devastating knee injury ended his campaign.

Metcalf’s arrival is the latest bit of good news for the winless Dragons who have also signed Scott Drinkwater, Keaon Koloamatangi and Phil Sami as they look to rebound in 2027.

But it also poses a tricky question for whoever replaces Shane Flanagan as coach with Atkinson, youngster Kade Reed and Kyle Flanagan battling it out to partner Metcalf in the halves.

Atkinson signed with the Dragons from Cronulla on a three-year deal and was touted as their long-term halfback, but he’s already shifted to five-eighth and could be fighting for a starting role next year given the intense competition for spots.

“Everyone here’s got to earn the number on their back, but that’s a long time away,” he said.

“There’s a narrative there that I came here to be a halfback. I came here to be in the halves and to play my game, which is running, kicking, and tackling well.

“So all I’m thinking about is how I can benefit this team at the moment. I’m not thinking (about) 2027. Obviously, it’s very exciting for him coming here, but I’ve got a job to do for this club first in 2026.”

Atkinson spent the first few years of his career coming off the bench, at five-eighth or in reserve grade, with the versatile playmaker getting used to the rigours of weekly footy in the halves and the intense scrutiny that comes with it.

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Daniel Atkinson has had some nice moments but is yet to fire for the Dragons. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

“I love it. It’s what I signed up for,” he said as the Dragons head into round 12 without a win and with the worst attack in the NRL.

“Obviously I’m not loving the circumstances we’re in at the moment, but then again, I’ve put myself in this circumstance and I’m going to face it head-on.

“I want us to be the ones who get us out of here, and I’m not going to shy away from that.

“I’m not proud of where we are. It’s a very passionate club with passionate fans, and everyone inside those doors are trying their arses off.

“The coaches, everyone from the top down, the players, we don’t want to be in this circumstance. Nobody does, so you can put money that we’re trying our arses off and we’re trying to turn the tide.”

Atkinson will start at five-eighth on Saturday night in his second game back after missing some time with a fractured hand, with the playmaker keen to add to his five try assists from the opening nine matches.

Kyle Flanagan has dealt with plenty this season. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

He’ll partner Flanagan who has endured a tough month of footy that included his dad moving on as coach before he was replaced in the halves by Reed.

Atkinson praised his halves partner’s mental toughness and was eager to build on their combination which has been criticised this season.

“We started the season there and played well in Vegas. Obviously, results didn’t go our way after that, but we don’t like where we are at the moment,” he said.

“We obviously want to be winning games, and he’s his own harshest critic. He tries there relentlessly.

“He’s been training well for a couple weeks now. I think he just knew what his job was and he’s a good defender and a good communicator on the field.

“His effort is second to none and I think he just focused on his job, his role for the team.”

WARRIORS LOCK IN BOYD AFTER ACL HEARTBREAK

The New Zealand Warriors have locked in halfback Tanah Boyd until the end of 2029, just days after he suffered a season-ending injury during Magic Round.

The three-year contract extension will keep the 25-year-old at the Warriors until the end of the 2029 NRL season.

Boyd ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee in the opening minutes of last Sunday’s Magic Round defeat of the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.

He initially joined the Warriors for two seasons in 2025, but was snapped up for a further three years thanks to “his superb form this season”, helping the Warriors to second on the ladder.

“We’re all feeling for Tanah but we’re so happy knowing we’ll have him here for another three years,” Warriors head coach Andrew Webster said.

Tanah Boyd went down with an ACL injury in the early minutes of the Warriors’s Magic Round clash against the Broncos on Sunday. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

“He has put a lot of hard work into his game and to his club. He has done a terrific job for us and has done his family and himself proud.

“You can see how much his all-round game has developed this year and how much more confident he is in his role. We’re rapt to have him here long-term.”

Warriors general manager recruitment, pathways and development Andrew McFadden said the re-signing was “just reward” for Boyd’s performance with the team so far.

“After being signed as a quality player with significant experience, he has made tremendous progress to sit alongside the NRL’s leading playmakers.”

Boyd scored three tries and kicked 40 goals for 92 points for the season, before being sidelined by the ACL injury.

Tanah Boyd has been rewarded for a solid performance since signing with the Warriors for two seasons last year. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

“He’s upset right now but the way he has handled himself this week has been unbelievable,” Webster said.

“I haven’t seen a player go through an ACL and reconnect with a team so quickly.

“Tanah has been at training sessions, he has been in our meetings, giving his opinion.”

With his six goals in the Warriors’ 36-14 round nine win over Parramatta, Boyd reached the 150-point mark for the club while he went past 400 points for his career since his first-grade debut with the Gold Coast Titans in 2019.