Brisbane hooker Andrew McCullough has injured his knee at training ahead of their NRL Magic Round clash with Manly.
Brisbane are reeling after hooker Andrew McCullough went down with a knee injury at training ahead of Friday’s NRL Magic Round clash with Manly.
The rake landed awkwardly in a tackle and was helped off the field nursing his right knee in a major blow to the battling Broncos.
Scans on Tuesday will determine the full extent of the injury but Jake Turpin looks set to take over at hooker.
“Obviously he is going to miss a few games but we are just not sure how long it is going to be yet,” back-rower Matt Gillett said.
“It’s not ideal. But I know Macca is a pretty good healer so no doubt he will be working hard to get back out there as soon as he can.
“And it gives Jake Turpin an opportunity to come in and fill his role.”
A backline shake-up also looms for Brisbane who have slumped to a 2-6 record following their last round 38-6 thumping from South Sydney.
Centre James Roberts and winger Jamayne Isaako look set to be dropped for the Sea Eagles clash after training with the reserves on Monday.
Kotoni Staggs was training in the centres with Gehamat Shibasaki on the wing in their places.
Gillett was confident the Broncos could bounce back against Manly no matter who ran out on Friday at Suncorp Stadium.
“We have been poor on the road this year but we always show up at Suncorp,” Gillett said.
“As a group we have to stick together and things will turn.
“We have shown patches this season that we can play some pretty good footy and be dominant, it’s about doing that for a whole game and doing it week to week.”
Emcie
Roar Guru
Probably. Though it didn't seem like a decision so much as you can't really recruit anyone with no set coach, so retention is the only real option left. Its entirely a problem of their own making though.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Bit like the back end of 2017, all or nothing with big wins and big losses
Nat
Roar Guru
Well that sucks. The Broncos are leaking points now and we lose a 50tkl player. Turpin is a good'n, he does bring energy but this is a whole new level that requires consistency. Seibold may have to go for broke in all out attack because there isn't the experience there to form a tight, trusting defensive unit. Yes, they will get flogged but the ones they win will be fun to watch.
Nat
Roar Guru
Maybe there was a bit of that in his statement about the 'club made a decision to go forward with the young guys...'?
Nat
Roar Guru
Being backs, you'd imagine it would be Norths they go back too if it's more then just this weekend? However, they probably won't play at all in the lower grades - why risk the injury? Just get named in the 21man squad.
Emcie
Roar Guru
I feel sorry for Siebold. The broncs off season recruiting was stuffed by the "coaching saga" with big name losses (to retirement and outside offers) and no real recruitment. It's fair to say that this isn't the side Siebold was looking at when he signed with the broncs. Add in a half-baked preseason and I reckon the broncos desperation to move Bennett on has cost the team far more then Seibold has so far.
Insider
Roar Rookie
Souths same Broncs a lot better, Wayne is a better coach that doesn’t need to do much at Souths, Seibold however looked good whilst at Souths until the cracks started appearing following late in season loss to Raiders then the semis, even though Broncs got smashed in finals I believe with a good off season Wayne’s Broncs would be better than what you see today under Seibold
Rellum
Roar Guru
yes, maybe :)
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
We'll never know the answer however I wonder if Bennett & Siebold had stayed put how would the two sides be going?
Rellum
Roar Guru
Sorry, that was meant to be no QRL cup next weekend
BA Sports
Roar Guru
maybe they are off to the BRL?... :p
Larry1950
Guest
No Intrust cup this weekend, it's the Qld-NSW residents clash at Redcliffe's rebuilt complex. How good are the Broncos going, their feeder clubs all got flogged on the weekend with Redcliffe based hooker Jake Turpin coming up in grade off a 48 - 0 thrashing by Burleigh Bears (feeder for the Titans), O'sullivan & Dargan in the halves for Norths beaten 36 - 8 by Tweed and 4 senior squad forwards ( Fensom, Taegatese, S'ua & Mago plus rookie Tanah Boyd) in the Souths Logan team beaten 72-6 by Storm feeder club Sunshine Coast Falcons. Darius Boyd would have to think himself lucky not to be dropped if the mail on Roberts & Isaako is correct, at least Isaako seemed to be interested & trying even though he's been caught out of position in defence a fair big this season. He could go to fullback & not try to make tackles or dive on the loose ball like Boyd does. Looks like the Bennett curse of leaving a disaster behind him when leaving clubs has struck again.
Kurt S
Roar Pro
Isaako has a good boot on him but has been missing in defense lately. From an outsider looking in, it seems that at training nothing is being done on defending the line. The guys don't trust each other in defense and far too many times people are coming across to the inside instead of stay out on their mark. It might be a blessing in disguise to have McCullough out injured. He is a liability in attack at the moment. He is one of the few tackling his heart out but Brisbane need more go forward. This will be his last year at the Broncos, I'm guessing.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
You hope McCullough is okay, but this could be a blessing for the Bronocs and the chance to get some attacking spark out of dummy half. If only he had collided with Boyd so he had to sit out... Not that I care, but from an Origin perspective it is interesting about Roberts getting sent down (possibly)
Flexis
Roar Rookie
Broncos can’t catch a break. Looking like he might have been putting something back together, then bang, season gone by the sound of it.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
What's happened to Isaako? He was looking like one of the next big things but struggling to be a first grader at the moment. Do I remember right, were the Roosters chasing him hard a couple of years ago?
Rellum
Roar Guru
QRL clubs next weekend. This weekend is a rep weekend it seems
Rellum
Roar Guru
So QRL club gets Jimmy the Jet this weekend. Maybe him and Issako both head back to Souths.