As Payne Haas and Reece Walsh recovered from their minor injuries, Kotoni Staggs was declared out for up to six weeks due to a quad injury, which was a difficult blow for Broncos coach Michael Maguire.
After winning both of their trial matches against an almost full-strength Brisbane club that destroyed a formidable Bulldogs lineup, the Broncos have emerged as the most impressive team in the preseason.
Seeing several players, including Staggs, Walsh, and Haas, wind up on the sidelines, Maguire would have hoped the squad made it through uninjured. In a major blow, Staggs will be out for four to six weeks after his squad injury turned out to be more serious than initially believed.
Staggs was the biggest concern for Maguire having left the game after just a few minutes. Footage showed the centre hobbling around the dressing room with a quad injury. And he will certainly missed the first few rounds of the NRL with his quad injury.
According to reports, Staggs is nearing a new contract with the Broncos and has proven to be a leader throughout Maguire’s brief tenure as coach.
The Broncos have a lot of selection calls, so Staggs’ absence for the first round is a huge loss. Because of this, Deine Mariner might continue to be in the starting 13.
Walsh and Haas, meanwhile, are expected to start against the Roosters on Thursday, according to the AAP. Although the team received $100,000 as a bonus for winning the preseason tournament, Staggs’ departure will be seen negatively.
Whether to start Jack Gosiewski or Brendan Piakura in the second row is one of the most important choices Maguire must make.
During a season when the Broncos missed the top eight, Piakura was a regular under former coach Kevin Walters. Maguire likes Gosiewski’s work rate on the edges, though.
Speaking on the dilemma, Broncos great Corey Parker suggested Maguire was rewarding off-season work ethic to start the season. While Parker suggests Piakura could come into the starting team down the track, Gosiewski has impressed Maguire as the coach sets the standards he wants in training.
“I think, yes Piakura is in a battle with Jack Gosiewski. When Madge Maguire first got to the Broncos he delivered his speech and standards…he wants people that have had a great off-season, who have worked extremely hard, to know they will get the first opportunity,” Parker said on SEN Radio.
“To his word, I think Jack Gosiewski’s has had a terrific off-season and he is getting his opportunity. But I don’t think it will pan out that, as the course of the year goes on.”
