Reece Walsh masterclass comes at a cost as Adam Reynolds limps off – MASHAHER

Walsh’s involvement may need to go to an even greater level in the coming weeks, as halfback and skipper Adam Reynolds left the field with 10 minutes remaining.

The 33-year-old, who was initially in doubt for Thursday night’s clash with a knee injury, appeared to suffer from the same concern, twice seen consulting Broncos’ staff before his night ended prematurely.

“I just stirred up what was already there, it was pretty sore, but it felt OK during the game,” Reynolds said post-game.

“I felt it a little bit during half-time, I thought it’d be right to get back out there, but I hurt it in the tackle. The plan is to get a scan in the morning.

“It’s not too serious.”

Jensen makes his case, but Broncos bench needs a lift

Corey Jensen announced himself as the heir apparent to Thomas Flegler’s No.8 jumper with a typically robust display, but Walters may need to consider a tweak to the makeup of his interchange.

The 30-year-old prop, who was initially named to start in Las Vegas before swapping to the bench for Marty Taupau, was at his no-nonsense best against the Rabbitohs.

It was just the sort of go forward the Broncos needed to compliment Payne Haas, who clearly missed his former partner in crime Flegler in their opening round defeat to the Roosters.

But for the second week running, Brisbane’s interchange failed to make the same sort of impact that made them an 80-minute threat in last year’s charge to the grand final.

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In 2023, Keenan Palasia returned from his axing to reserve grade and proved invaluable against tiring packs, and ensured his pack’s momentum continued once the likes of Flegler and Haas took a breather.

However, his move to the Gold Coast Titans has left an unheralded void at Red Hill, with Kobe Hetherington, Fletcher Baker and Taupau failing to provide the same spark with Haas off the field.

While Jensen was kept off for the entire second half, he managed 99 running metres in his stint, and Pat Carrigan marvelled with a near full game running for more than 200m and making 38 tackles.

The bench trio may have upped the ante late in the clash, but it came as Haas rejoined the fray and caused chaos for the South Sydney middles after the visitors had gained the upper hand in his absence.

Young hulking middle Xavier Willison, named as 18th man, waits in the wings and will likely come into consideration, while Walters confirmed in the pre-season that teenage giant Ben Te Kura would garner a debut in 2024.

The latter would be highly unlikely to come in so soon in the campaign, but the reality was the Broncos looked a vastly different side with Haas off the field, and it was his return to the fray which coincided with Brisbane’s return to form.

“Payne and Patty are obviously the cornerstone of our pack, so we want them on the field as much as we can,” Broncos coach Kevin Walters said.

Cobbo tailor-made for centre stage

Just two games into his career as an NRL centre, Selwyn Cobbo has showcased the move could be a long-term masterstroke.

The 21-year-old cemented his status as one of the game’s leading wingers last year, with only injury costing him from featuring on the State of Origin stage more than his Game I showing.

In front of 35,507 Suncorp Stadium spectators, Cobbo looked at home in his new position.

Twice he linked up with Walsh to burst into the clear down the left side flank, and the electric duo were at it again to break a 12-12 deadlock.

After Walsh forced a repeat set, he skipped to the left and fired a pass to Cobbo, whose brilliant tap on was well handled by Arthars to hit the lead.

Cobbo was in the thick of it again for the following try, providing the pass for Arthars to break into the clear, with his infield kick scooped on by Walsh to cross again.

Finishing with 181m, two linebreaks, a linebreak assist, try assist and eight tackle busts, it became clear the shift was no experiment and primed to be a success.

“He’s getting better Selwyn, better than last week. His defence was very good tonight, and also he’s getting himself in the game a little bit more,” Walters said.

“Selwyn’s big strength is his ability to carry the ball well and he did that tonight.”

Mariner justifies shock selection

Despite being one of the Broncos all-time leading try scorers, veteran flyer Corey Oates has been left on the outer as coach Kevin Walters seeks to deploy plenty of speed to burn.

It led to the selection of 20-year-old rookie Deine Mariner, who has not let the faith down.

For the second time already this season, Mariner won the race to a well-weighted kick to score – his seventh try in eight first-grade appearances.

On this occasion, the Palm Beach Currumbin product pounced on a late Adam Reynolds grubber kick, capitalising on the field possession created by an early kick the set prior from the halfback which ended with Kotoni Staggs dragging Alex Johnston into touch.

It was Johnston who was caught napping by the lightning Mariner, who also beat the veteran to the punch deep in the second half to thwart a late Rabbitohs attacking kick, before putting in a chip for himself to score his second for the night and ice the contest.

While he was kept relatively quiet overall and will need to go hunting for more involvement as he settles into week to week first-grade, he looked smart in defence and judged the attack well in tandem with Kotoni Staggs.

“That chip and chase was a beauty, he kicked one last week over in Vegas and nearly hit our hotel it went that far,” Walters said.

“He got it right there, he’s a good young talent, and he’s a try-scorer – it’s what he does – and for someone that young he’s handling the speed and the pace of the game, and he’s doing a lot of things right.”

Oates’ size makes him a tempting inclusion coming out of trouble – even in an injury-plagued campaign last year averaging 184m a game from nine outings – yet he lacks the same blistering pace of his younger counterpart.

The 29-year-old may be forced to push for selection through the Queensland Cup; however, he did not line up for his affiliate outfit the Burleigh Bears last week, and has not been named for Saturday’s clash with the Townsville Blackhawks.

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