Broncos’ Piakura out of Cowboys clash, Oates recalled

Another blow to Brisbane’s injury list comes from second-rower Brendan Piakura, who will miss up to four weeks

due to an ankle injury that will prevent him from playing against North

Queensland. While former St George Illawarra forward Jaiyden Hunt will

make his NRL club debut for the Broncos, veteran winger Corey Oates has been

called up to the bench. In Friday night’s match at Suncorp Stadium, he will start

in Piakura’s place. Assemble Martin Taupau has been dropped from the

starting 17, with Oates filling in as a forward and outside back on the bench.

The 29-year-old, who can fill a variety of roles, practiced this week in a range of

positions on the field. He played second row as a young player.

Piakura exited the field during Tuesday’s training session, and Hunt shifted into the back row. According to a scan,

Brendan sustained a sprained ankle, according to Broncos head of

performance Dave Ballard. “We will wait until the swelling settles, but at this stage

we are looking at up to four weeks of rehab before he returns.”

The Broncos are already without prop Payne Haas (knee) and fullback Reece

Walsh (facial fracture) for the Cowboys clash.

 

Skipper Adam Reynolds got through a second training session for the week and

has been named at halfback after missing Thursday’s round-three loss to

Penrith with a medial collateral ligament strain.

 

Oates trained with the forwards and backs on Tuesday and has been backed

by prop Fletcher Baker to fire on the bench in the utility role.

 

“Oatsey is a legend of the club, and while back row is not his position it was at the

start,” Baker said before the team was named.

 

“It would be pretty cool personally to play with him too. You grow up watching

people like that, and if he can come in that’s big.

 

“You just have to look at how he played in Origin (for Queensland) back in the day. He’s still got that football too. If he

can handle Origin he can handle anything really.”

 

Hunt has earned his start on the back of a strong pre-season and form in the Queensland Cup.

 

“He’s a workhorse. He played good football at the Dragons and he’s a good footballer,” Baker said.

 

“Last week in Cup he played some time in the middle too, so he is (versatile).”

 

Coach Kevin Walters said after he lost Walsh early to injury in the 34-12 loss to

Penrith that he was leaning towards having an outside back on the bench. He

has followed through with the selection of Oates.

 

Injuries are playing havoc with Walters’ plans as the Broncos – who have won just

once in three games to start the season – battle to get their season on track.