NRL Profile: Brisbane Broncos

Having suffered the heartbreak of a grand final defeat in 2023, the Brisbane Broncos will be determined to overcome the final hurdle in the upcoming campaign.

Only a late comeback from the Penrith Panthers denied Brisbane the title in Sydney and the Broncos must dust themselves down and be ready to go again in the new NRL campaign.

Brisbane are 4.50 to go one better and win the grand final next season, while reigning champions Penrith are the 3.75 favourites to retain the title for a fourth consecutive season.

Brisbane desperate to end title wait

Coming so close last season will have been painful for Broncos supporters, especially with their side last winning a grand final back in 2006.

Brisbane have come close since with runners-up places in 2015 and 2023 but their title tally remains at six.

Reynolds to lead from the front once again

Skipper Adam Reynolds has been talismanic since joining the Broncos in 2022 and the former South Sydney Rabbitohs star looks set for another big season.

The 33-year-old was guilty of some high-profile errors in the grand final loss to Penrith, including a couple of dropouts being kicked out on the full.

That disappointment might well be a motivator for Reynolds to produce even more this coming season but he does have an abundance of quality around him and will have plenty of support.

Payne Haas enjoyed an impressive 2023 to win the Broncos’ NRL Player of the Year, while Mariah Denman looks ready to put in another big shift in 2024.

New signings

Brisbane have brought in a couple of players who will be determined to have a big impact at Suncorp this season.

Jaiyden Hunt moved from the St. George Illawarra Dragons to Brisbane, while Fletcher Baker has made the switch from the Sydney Roosters.

The 25-year-old Hunt made his NRL debut in 2021 and has done enough during his time with the Dragons to catch the eye of a title challenger in Brisbane.

Expect the second-row to add dynamism to the Broncos’ pack as Hunt goes in search of a first grand final win.

Meanwhile, an even fresher face on the scene, 23-year-old Baker looks ready for the step up to life at Suncorp Stadium.

Another player who will bring a freshness to the Broncos’ pack, it will be interesting to see how Baker goes in 2024.

Opening fixtures

Brisbane open their campaign with a good acid test against the Sydney Roosters on 3rd March.

However, this is no ordinary regular season game, as the opener will take place in the lavish surroundings of the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Opened in 2020 in Paradise, Nevada, the stadium has a 65,000 capacity for NFL games for the Las Vegas Raiders, which is also expandable to 71,835.

At a cost of US $1.9million, Allegiant Stadium is an impressive modern stadium that will provide a unique experience for those lucky enough to be there.

The Broncos are favourites at 1.60 to win their opener, while the Roosters are 2.35 to claim the spoils in Vegas. 

Brisbane’s tricky start continues when they host the South Sydney Rabbitohs on 14th March, before making the trip to the reigning champions Penrith Panthers on 29th March.