The Brisbane coach needs to find replacements for Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam.
Kevin Walters has had his say on who might replace the injured Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam in the halves for the Brisbane Broncos. And the former coach believes Michael Maguire should resist the urge to keep Kotoni Staggs at five-eighth.
The Broncos copped a disastrous double blow on Thursday night when Reynolds and Mam both suffered hamstring injuries on the same play against the Melbourne Storm. Reynolds is likely to miss about a month, but there’s fears Mam won’t play again this season.
Ben Hunt will likely slot into the halves to replace one of them, but his partner is up in the air. Staggs switched from centre to five-eighth on Thursday night after Reynolds and Mam went down, and Maguire has the option of keeping him there for their crunch clash with the Dolphins on Saturday night.
But the coach also has a number of specialist halves who could fill the void. Jock Madden and Josh Rogers have plenty of first-grade experience, while Billy Walters is usually a hooker but has played in the halves before. The Broncos also have young gun Coby Black waiting in the wings, but club legend Darren Lockyer cautioned against picking the 19-year-old.
According to Kevin Walters, Maguire is better served playing Staggs in the centres. And the former coach reckons it might be son Billy at No.6 with Hunt at halfback.
“I feel like Kotoni is better in the centres,” Walters said on Fox League. “The Broncos need someone who is more of a genuine six. Kotoni did a good job the other night but his asset is his running and power game and that’s best served in the centres. Billy is an option for them at six.”
Billy Walters comfortable playing in halves
Billy played five-eighth at the Wests Tigers, but has played more hooker at the Broncos. “I trained probably 50-50 in the halves in pre-season,” he said earlier this year. “Something me and Madge spoke about in pre-season was that I hadn’t trained too much at six, so I got some reps in there and dusted off the cobwebs.
“It’s something different. It helps me prove my point of my versatility and how valuable I can be to the team if a half was to go down. If something were to happen to ‘Reyno’ or Ezra, Madge needs me in the halves to play a role.”
If Walters does get the nod at five-eighth, the Broncos have Cory Paix to fill-in at hooker. Paix began the year as the starting No.9, but lost the spot when Hunt switched from the halves when Mam returned from suspension.
Making the call even trickier is the fact Selwyn Cobbo also suffered a hamstring injury against the Storm, meaning Maguire would have to fill two voids in the back-line if he switches Staggs to No.6. However Jesse Arthars and Josiah Karapani are waiting in the wings if that eventuates.
Michael Maguire rejects ugly claims about Adam Reynolds
Speaking on Saturday, Maguire hit back at suggestions the Broncos made a mistake to re-sign Reynolds for one more season in 2026. The captain has now suffered serious injuries in back-to-back seasons after rupturing his bicep in 2025.
“He’s not done,” Maguire told the Courier Mail. “I have total faith in Reyno. I know he can play on because I see what a competitor he is and the way he looks after himself. There’s no concerns there.”
