Brisbane’s inspirational leader immediately cried for assistance when he reeled from an attempted tackle in the 40-18 defeat to the Sydney Roosters,with coach Kevin Walters confirming the belief had torn his bicep.
Adam Reynolds’ season is in doubt with a serious bicep injury.Getty
Such a setback could require at least three months of recovery,and he was spotted with his arm in a sling in the Broncos’ sheds post-game.
Walters said it was likely the 33-year-old would require surgery,and when asked if it was a season-ending setback he responded “potentially”.
“It’s not looking too good for him,he’s got the bicep injury – a torn bicep – so I guess he’ll have to have surgery,and he’ll be out for a substantial period I would have thought,” Walters said.
“Until they actually get in and operate on it,I guess we don’t know[if it’s season-ending]. I don’t know a whole lot about biceps,but I know he’s going to be out for an extended period.”
Madden,meanwhile,has long been lauded as the heir apparent to Reynolds’ No.7 jumper – signed until the end of 2026 – and now the gauntlet has been thrown down to prove it.
He impressed at times when Reynolds was nursing knee and hamstring woes earlier in the year,and scored twice at five-eighth against the Tigers last week before succumbing to a pectoral injury.
Walters admitted Madden was only “an outside chance” for next week. However,it was a pleasing sight during the week to see him training – albeit with a red no-contact bib on.
Broncos hooker Billy Walters threw his support behind Madden,endorsing him as the man to guide the side out of this injury crisis and keep the team in premiership contention.
Should Madden not be fit to take on the Eels,he said Tristan Sailor would be a more likely halves partner to Ezra Mam,rather than himself as he has done when Reynolds has been forced from the field this year.
Jock Madden will get an extended chance to prove he is Brisbane’s long-term halfback.Getty
“It’s hard for Reyno,it’s hard for us as well,but we’ve got Jock who has done a great job when he’s stepped up this year,so we have confidence that he’ll be able to step in and do a good job for us,” Billy Walters said.
“It’s a great opportunity for him to not have the doubts about how long he’s going to be in the side for. It’s probably his now for the next 13 weeks,so he can really settle in and prove and show why the club signed him and why they think he’s the long-term No.7.
“I think Tristan would probably get a crack over me[if Madden is not fit]. My job’s in the middle,it’s my best position at the moment,so I’d be surprised if they moved me from there with quality like Tristan there waiting.”
Mam’s time to make a statement
If Ezra Mam was ever to prove he had the makings of the Broncos’ main maestro for the long haul,the forthcoming period will be the time to prove it – starting with next week’s clash against Parramatta.
The 21-year-old has shown signs that he can take the game by the scruff of the neck. His hat-trick heroics in last year’s grand final stand out as one example,while against the Raiders two weeks ago he took on a far greater ownership of the game management than he has in the past.
On Friday night,Mam showcased flashes of what he can do,before he was forced from the field for 15 minutes to undergo a head injury assessment.
Ezra Mam and Billy Walters celebrate the former’s try against the Roosters.Getty
He finished with a try,two try assists and two linebreak assists to claw the Broncos back from a 12-point deficit to 18-18,and his absence was deeply felt as Brisbane fell apart from that point.
But Walters declared the ownership of the team could not solely be placed in Mam’s hands.
“I think the ownership needs to be spread across the group,” Walters said.
“With Patty[Carrigan] there,with Reece[Walsh],Billy and Tyson[Smoothy],they all need to step up in that space when Reyno’s not there.”
‘X’ ready for more?
There were few bright spots to come from the injury carnage that was the Broncos’ defeat,but one was the evident evolution of Xavier Willison.
The young prop has taken time to ease into first-grade,having battled a host of health woes of his own - including an ACL rupture and syndesmosis setback – but now appears a staple of Brisbane’s pack.
But based on the way he stood up to a Roosters front line featuring Queensland Maroons enforcer Lindsay Collins,it begs the question:is Willison ready for a greater role?
From 38 minutes of action,Willison ran for 140 metres and made 16 tackles for just the one miss,having become one of Brisbane’s leading middles when Payne Haas recovered from knee surgery.
Xavier Willison has been phenomenal since returning to the Brisbane Broncos lineup.NRL Photos
“He works hard,he’s a good kid. Kevvie really stresses at this club if he gives you an opportunity you have to take it with both hands,” Broncos star Pat Carrigan said.
“He had to play a lot of minutes tonight,and he obviously grabbed that opportunity. He’s still working on little things,but he works with Carty[assistant coach John Cartwright] a lot,and he’s got a lot more growth.”
While the impact Willison can provide has been impressive,fellow interchange forward Kobe Hetherington believed he would need to continue plying his trade off the bench,rather than being rushed into a more extensive role.
“Xavier’s learning each week,but we’ve got a good starting pack now,and he’s still only young too,” Hetherington said.
“He’s doing a wonderful job off the bench for us going forward and whatever Kevvie reckons will be the go.”
Depth to be tested once again
In a season which has already been plagued by injuries,the fate of the Brisbane Broncos will now rest in just how their depth has developed in that time.
At last,coach Kevin Walters’ men had got a full-strength side back on the park,only for Reynolds and Jesse Arthars to suffer long-term concerns.
Arthars was taken to hospital with a broken jaw,after he attempted to make a desperate tackle on Roosters’ winger Dominic Young only for his chin to come into contact with his rival’s shoulder.
Brisbane’s campaign has already been marred with a plethora of injuries - this now the third time Reynolds will be sidelined,while the club has been without Walsh,Haas,Mam,Selwyn Cobbo,Deine Mariner and Brendan Piakura at various stages.
Jesse Arthars is tackled during the Broncos’ defeat to the Roosters.Getty
But Carrigan was adamant this would not break his side’s hopes.
“We’ll find out what we’re made of,” Carrigan said.
“Such is life with footy,I think this happens to a lot of teams. We have a lot of depth at our club,and I’m confident whoever plays there will do the job for us.
“It’s a unique opportunity for us now. We’ve had a lot of experience in pressure situations where hopefully we get to full strength at the back end of the year and when something chaotic happens those boys have had some experience in those positions.”
Mariner could be another ruled out for the battle with Parramatta,after he was placed on report and sent to the sin bin with Friday night’s clash still delicately poised.
The rookie flyer was penalised for a shoulder charge,meaning the Broncos could be on the hunt for two replacement wingers if he receives a suspension.
Billy Walters backed veteran Jordan Pereira to come in if that eventuates,given a knee injury suffered to Delouise Hoeter.
However,Hetherington admitted Arthars’ void would be difficult to cover.
“He’s a tough bugger Jesse,he’s the one who gets our go forward started. He does those tough carries and always punches his nose through and gets us on the front foot,” Hetherington said.
“He’ll be a big loss,but I’m sure whoever steps up will do a good job.”