Star prop fit, Broncos coach savours big incoming boost
Brisbane welcome back their two best forwards from State of Origin and have other reasons to believe in a mid-season resurgence.
Any doubts over the availability of NSW prop Payne Haas, who played with a niggle in Perth, were dispelled by coach Michael Maguire ahead of Sunday's home clash against fifth-placed Cronulla with the club insisting he had nothing more than a "tight hip".
Haas and benched Queensland star Pat Carrigan sailed through Saturday's final training session and will face the Sharks.
The Broncos' spine is also taking shape as the one Maguire wanted at the start of the season, with five-eighth Ezra Mam and fullback Reece Walsh playing their first game together this year in a 44-14 win over Gold Coast before last week's bye.
Veteran Ben Hunt's return from a hamstring injury is also imminent and he will slot in at No.9 or No.14 to add more smarts to the spine.
The inclusion of Haas is a major lift for the seventh-positioned Broncos.
"He was a bit tight, but he is fine. He's got nothing wrong with him," Maguire said."(Haas and Carrigan) are very passionate about what they do here as well, so it's nice to see them come back and get into all the recovery mechanisms they have now.
"They are ready to go, they are two machines."
Walsh and Mam were lethal in the lead-up to the 2023 grand final and Maguire is heartened by what they can achieve with captain Adam Reynolds.
"It was the first time for quite some time where I've actually had Reecey and Ez play together," Maguire said.
"You see Reece come in and every time the ball has been moved, you see Reece and Ezra together and then Reyno is the orchestrator of what's going on.They add a lot to the team.
"Hunty is doing well (with his recovery). We have just got to make sure the old boy is one hundred per cent ready.
"That brings another dynamic.
"Any time I have seen success within an organisation is when you have got internal ... pressure on to make sure you work hard every day."
Hunt is aiming to be fit for either the round-17 clash with the Warriors or the following week away against Canterbury.
Representative centre Selwyn Cobbo will play for Wynnum Manly in the Queensland Cup, keeping pressure on all outside backs to perform. Cobbo is off-contract and at long odds to remain a Bronco in 2026 unless he is prepared to take a pay cut.
"Selwyn is aware what he needs to do at this present moment and that is the most important thing for him. Contract talks always sort themselves out by what you can do on the field, so he's focused on that," Maguire said.
"With the salary cap and trying to fit things in, I have inherited where things are at at the moment.
"So you've got to work your way through it and I know the organisation is doing that.
"(Josiah) Karapani has done a good job for us last week (on the wing) so he gets another opportunity. When you have someone like Selly sitting in the wings it keeps the focus pretty strong."
Brisbane welcome back their two best forwards from State of Origin and have other reasons to believe in a mid-season resurgence.
Any doubts over the availability of NSW prop Payne Haas, who played with a niggle in Perth, were dispelled by coach Michael Maguire ahead of Sunday's home clash against fifth-placed Cronulla with the club insisting he had nothing more than a "tight hip".
Haas and benched Queensland star Pat Carrigan sailed through Saturday's final training session and will face the Sharks.
The Broncos' spine is also taking shape as the one Maguire wanted at the start of the season, with five-eighth Ezra Mam and fullback Reece Walsh playing their first game together this year in a 44-14 win over Gold Coast before last week's bye.
Veteran Ben Hunt's return from a hamstring injury is also imminent and he will slot in at No.9 or No.14 to add more smarts to the spine.
The inclusion of Haas is a major lift for the seventh-positioned Broncos.
"He was a bit tight, but he is fine. He's got nothing wrong with him," Maguire said."(Haas and Carrigan) are very passionate about what they do here as well, so it's nice to see them come back and get into all the recovery mechanisms they have now.
"They are ready to go, they are two machines."
Walsh and Mam were lethal in the lead-up to the 2023 grand final and Maguire is heartened by what they can achieve with captain Adam Reynolds.
"It was the first time for quite some time where I've actually had Reecey and Ez play together," Maguire said.
"You see Reece come in and every time the ball has been moved, you see Reece and Ezra together and then Reyno is the orchestrator of what's going on.They add a lot to the team.
"Hunty is doing well (with his recovery). We have just got to make sure the old boy is one hundred per cent ready.
"That brings another dynamic.
"Any time I have seen success within an organisation is when you have got internal ... pressure on to make sure you work hard every day."
Hunt is aiming to be fit for either the round-17 clash with the Warriors or the following week away against Canterbury.
Representative centre Selwyn Cobbo will play for Wynnum Manly in the Queensland Cup, keeping pressure on all outside backs to perform. Cobbo is off-contract and at long odds to remain a Bronco in 2026 unless he is prepared to take a pay cut.
"Selwyn is aware what he needs to do at this present moment and that is the most important thing for him. Contract talks always sort themselves out by what you can do on the field, so he's focused on that," Maguire said.
"With the salary cap and trying to fit things in, I have inherited where things are at at the moment.
"So you've got to work your way through it and I know the organisation is doing that.
"(Josiah) Karapani has done a good job for us last week (on the wing) so he gets another opportunity. When you have someone like Selly sitting in the wings it keeps the focus pretty strong."
Brisbane welcome back their two best forwards from State of Origin and have other reasons to believe in a mid-season resurgence.
Any doubts over the availability of NSW prop Payne Haas, who played with a niggle in Perth, were dispelled by coach Michael Maguire ahead of Sunday's home clash against fifth-placed Cronulla with the club insisting he had nothing more than a "tight hip".
Haas and benched Queensland star Pat Carrigan sailed through Saturday's final training session and will face the Sharks.
The Broncos' spine is also taking shape as the one Maguire wanted at the start of the season, with five-eighth Ezra Mam and fullback Reece Walsh playing their first game together this year in a 44-14 win over Gold Coast before last week's bye.
Veteran Ben Hunt's return from a hamstring injury is also imminent and he will slot in at No.9 or No.14 to add more smarts to the spine.
The inclusion of Haas is a major lift for the seventh-positioned Broncos.
"He was a bit tight, but he is fine. He's got nothing wrong with him," Maguire said."(Haas and Carrigan) are very passionate about what they do here as well, so it's nice to see them come back and get into all the recovery mechanisms they have now.
"They are ready to go, they are two machines."
Walsh and Mam were lethal in the lead-up to the 2023 grand final and Maguire is heartened by what they can achieve with captain Adam Reynolds.
"It was the first time for quite some time where I've actually had Reecey and Ez play together," Maguire said.
"You see Reece come in and every time the ball has been moved, you see Reece and Ezra together and then Reyno is the orchestrator of what's going on.They add a lot to the team.
"Hunty is doing well (with his recovery). We have just got to make sure the old boy is one hundred per cent ready.
"That brings another dynamic.
"Any time I have seen success within an organisation is when you have got internal ... pressure on to make sure you work hard every day."
Hunt is aiming to be fit for either the round-17 clash with the Warriors or the following week away against Canterbury.
Representative centre Selwyn Cobbo will play for Wynnum Manly in the Queensland Cup, keeping pressure on all outside backs to perform. Cobbo is off-contract and at long odds to remain a Bronco in 2026 unless he is prepared to take a pay cut.
"Selwyn is aware what he needs to do at this present moment and that is the most important thing for him. Contract talks always sort themselves out by what you can do on the field, so he's focused on that," Maguire said.
"With the salary cap and trying to fit things in, I have inherited where things are at at the moment.
"So you've got to work your way through it and I know the organisation is doing that.
"(Josiah) Karapani has done a good job for us last week (on the wing) so he gets another opportunity. When you have someone like Selly sitting in the wings it keeps the focus pretty strong."
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VALUE BET Race 2 No.8: POIEMA Has provincial form and comes off a lovely trial win. QUADDIE Race 4: 8 Race 5: 3, 9, 12 Race 6: 5, 8 Race 7: 1, 3, 4, 7 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW Apprentice TILLY McCARROLL has some great rides on Sunday. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ DUBBO INSIDE MAIL RACE 1: BENCHMARK 82 HANDICAP (1600m) BUSH TELEGRAPH (4) is one for one at this same track and distance. Scott Singleton brings her back here with a real sense of timing about her. That is to say that she is fourth-up here off a couple of real eye-catchers, closing late each time. REBEL'S EDGE (2) won the Wingham Cup on June 5 then went to Muswellbrook and ran well again in a BM82. Has raced well here before but to be honest, he races well everywhere. The best TOUCH OF NAVY (1) is good enough to win this. Wealthy Investor ought to be respected. BET: BUSH TELEGRAPH to win. RACE 2: COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN HANDICAP (1400m) POEIMA (8) remains winless after 15 starts but she has placed on eight occasions and often in far superior company than what she takes on here. Either one of the last two placings at Gosford and/or Wyong and she's home and hosed. Won a trial at Scone on June 5. Easy to make a case for. CONSIDERED (3) gets the dual advantages of Aaron Bullock and barrier four. Don't like to be too harsh but she's been awfully costly! Todd Howlett-trained galloper EPIC STATEMENT (15) is very well placed indeed at the 1400m. BET: POEIMA to win. RACE 3: BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1300m) MISSY MOSS (2) is a Mack Griffith-trained mare on a hat-trick. Goes without saying, it's hard to knock such an in-form racehorse, especially a last-start track and distance winner who gets Aaron Bullock again. WILLINGA KARISMA (3) clocked in three lengths behind Missy Moss when they met here on June 6. Has a little weight swing her way this time which can't hurt. ROLLED GOLD (7) is building towards another win. Go well. CHOICE DEEL (9) has only won three from 51 but can gives the impression the 1300m will suit. BET: MISSY MOSS to win, quinella 2, 3. RACE 4: BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (2200m) DEEMEE (8) can stay and why wouldn't she be able to stick on as a daughter of Preferment with a grand-dam by At Talaq. Speaking of Melbourne Cup winners, Deemee's fifth dam is by Marco Polo, father of 1959 winner – Macdougal. With all that said. Deemee has the form and the fitness to conquer these. Instead is holding her form especially well. Beaten at the picnics last start but drops 14kg! IMAGE OF THE SUN (3) has a good draw (three) and a great jockey (Bullock). BET: DEEMEE to win. RACE 5: SUPER MAIDEN PLATE (1100m) SPRING PROSPECT (12) has raced three times, her two runs this prep are a second at Parkes followed by a half-length third at Warren. You could make the case to argue that this is a weaker maiden than she lined-up in at Warren and as for her debut, it was won by the above-average Torn. HANNAH'S BRIDGE (9) debuts off a lovely trial. She's a half-sister to, and stablemate of, Cheap Gas who goes well. HEFTY PRICE (3) is on a quick back-up and getting ever closer to an elusive win. BET: SPRING PROSPECT to win, HANNAH'S BRIDGE each-way, Daily Double 1st leg 12, 2nd leg 1. RACE 6: COUNTRY BOOSTED BENCHMARK 66 HANDICAP (1000m) ROMANTIC LOVE (8) is a Brett Robb-trained 3YO son of Astern and a rather promising one at that. He created a huge impression when he won by almost five lengths on debut at Warren on November 10. Beaten a lip next time, third after that in a good Class 1 and was spelled. Super trial winner here at home on June 6. MIDNIGHT DREAM (5) came down the middle and right over the top to win that BM58 at Narromine last start – easily. Harder here but almost won a BM66 at Muswellbrook prior to that last start romp. BET: ROMANTIC LOVE to win, exacta 5,8, box trifecta 2, 3, 5, 8. RACE 7: CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1100m) BRUTAL LOVE (1) is trained here at Dubbo by Clint Lundholm whose tally of winners at his home track is 194. As for this 3YO gelding, he has raced seven times for one win, three seconds and a third. He was fourth in the Wellintgon Boot and a huge third in the $200,000 Inglis Challenge immediately after. As for the present day, he was a very pleasing fourth to Elson Boy in a trial here on June 6. PRESSNELL (3) has drawn wide but it might not do him too much harm. BET: BRUTAL LOVE to win, quinella 1, 3. Horse Racing Form analyst Jett Hatton provides his best bets and race-by-race analysis for Dubbo on Sunday. Horse Racing Exciting colt Sonofkirk showed his impressive turn of foot after another sluggish start to score his first win at Caulfield on Saturday.
