How Brisbane Broncos will fill Reece Walsh, Adam Reynolds and Ben Hunt injury voids against North Queensland Cowboys
Jesse Arthars has vowed to prove he still has a future at Red Hill and revealed he doesn’t feel any pressure to emulate Reece Walsh as he prepares to make his full-back debut.
Despite a 26-12 victory over the Gold Coast Titans on Saturday, their third win on the trot, Brisbane are reeling from injuries to three of their biggest stars: Walsh (broken cheekbone), skipper and halfback Adam Reynolds (adductor) and Ben Hunt (knee).
Walsh is expected to miss four to six weeks after going under the knife; Despite being named the No. 7 shooter, Reynolds is unsure if he will play in Friday night’s match against the North Queensland Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium.
Hunt will miss close to two months after suffering a third-degree MCL tear against the Titans.
That leaves the recent premiers with nearly $2.5 million worth of talent sidelined as utility forward Billy Walters (ACL), Grant Anderson (MCL) and backup center Delouise Hoeter (fractured fibula and syndesmosis) continue their respective rehabs.
Versatile Arthars, who has played wing, centre-back and full-back in the NRL, is fighting for his future and will be out of contract at the end of the season.
No.1 reserve Hayze Perham, who missed 2025 after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament, was impressive for Souths Logan in the Queensland Cup – averaging 182 running meters per game but never missing a tackle to earn a place on the six-man bench – with Broncos coach Michael Maguire appointing Arthars to replace Walsh.
Winger Josiah Karapani, who was suspended from the game by Queensland Police after being fined and fined for public nuisance, will make his comeback on Arthars’ wing.
“I want to stay here, I’m not looking to go anywhere else,” said Arthars, who made his first NRL game of the year against the Titans, scoring a try and running for 182 metres.
“My mindset for every season is to be ready for any position; I’ve never seen myself being stuck in one spot, so I like to train and prepare in different positions for opportunities like this.
“It helps your CV a little bit if you can play different positions, so I think that’s a positive.”
The loss of the mercurial Walsh deals a major blow to Maguire’s attack, while the loss of Reynolds and Hunt increases pressure at five-eighths for Ezra Mam to become the lead playmaker.
If Reynolds cannot overcome his issue, rookie Tom Duffy will be promoted to the starting team from the No. 18 jersey.
Duffy’s Broncos debut would come against his former Cowboys team-mates, who have shown impressive signs for Souths Logan this year; He assisted seven tries in four games, taking on the bulk of the kicking duties and sending off five men in the process.
The 21-year-old took his first step towards becoming the Cowboys’ long-term halfback by making a breakthrough appearance in the Queensland Cup last year – he has 33 assists in 2024, with his kicking game particularly prominent – but was dropped after two matches before signing a one-year deal with Brisbane.
While Duffy will be tasked with continuing the Broncos’ momentum, Reynolds warned of “be patient” when it comes to expectations for young playmakers making the leap to the NRL.
“Young halves are coming into the system these days and the media is pretty quick to jump on them and tell them they’re doing a bad job or a good job. As long as they’re listening to the right people, that’s all that matters – the coaching staff and the players around them,” Reynolds said.
“They don’t have to worry about the outside world or what’s being said; it’s about learning and doing and trying to bring the best to your teammates.”
Hunt’s role on the bench will be taken up by Blake Mozer, who has not been seen in the NRL since the club’s last game in 2024 despite being named as the Broncos’ long-term hooker.
The 21-year-old has struggled with back and jaw injuries for much of 2025 and has made just one start in reserve grade for the Burleigh Bears this year. But Brisbane No.9 Cory Paix believed the youngster was ready to make his mark.
“Patience is really the key, you just have to be ready because you never know when you might get called on,” Paix said.
“Blake will come in and do a great job, he has all the talent in the world and he needs to go out there and be Blake Mozer.”
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