Adam Reynolds, the captain of the Brisbane Broncos, is relying on the team’s young players to step up and cover for Kurt Capewell, who is leaving to play for the Warriors.
Although Capewell’s contract was still in effect, he joined Thomas Flegler and Keenan Palasia as forwards who have left Red Hill for 2024 this week. Reynolds expressed confidence that, despite the pain of Capewell’s departure, the next generation of players would be able to claim his position
.
He’s a senior player here, so it’s a big impact on the team,” said Reynolds, who hopes to stay with the team past 2024.
“Kurt obviously arrived at the same time as me, and while he performs admirably on the field, I believe his off-field contributions are where you really get the most value out of him.
“There will definitely be a bit of a hole there because of his professionalism in and around training, the standards he sets, and the fact that he was a major part of this club and the reason we had some success last year.
However, I can’t wait for these young boys to step up, assume some responsibility, and develop into truly wonderful individuals.
“We’ve seen younger players perform well when given the chance in the past.
“It’s just about making sure that training goes smoothly and that everyone feels at ease with the people who fill those positions, but everyone has a part to play.
“There are guys who will succeed and develop in that position as well.”
Players have already advanced in their development this past season; two such players are Brendan Piakura and Jordan Riki,who have both made the right edge their own and recently signed contracts that will keep them with the team until 2027.
But even with Fletcher Baker—who can also play in the second row—the depth issue still exists.
“There are always questions; we had some player losses the year before, but we handled it pretty well,” Reynolds remarked.
“Undoubtedly, the team has lost a few excellent players, but as I’ve previously stated, these are exciting times for the younger guys who are making their way up.”
“Obviously, one that comes to mind is Brendan Piakura; he played exceptionally well in the few games he had last year, took advantage of his opportunities, and qualified for the grand final.
This year, other boys will be the same. When given the chance, younger men will impress and show that they are eager to work. We might also see a few surprises from them. It’s pretty obvious that the Broncos consistently develop young players with a ton of talent coming through.
