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 will be joining the Warriors next season, in the forward pack.
With one more season left on his contract, Capewell joined Thomas Flegler and Keenan Palasia as forwards who have left Red Hill for 2024. Reynolds expressed confidence that the next generation of players will be able to take over Capewell’s second row spot, even though his departure will be felt.
“He’s a senior player here, so it’s a huge impact on the club,” stated Reynolds, who hopes to stay with the team into 2024.
“Kurt clearly 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 stand up, assume some responsibility, and develop into very wonderful individuals.
“We’ve seen younger players do 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 that 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 growth this past season; two such players are Brendan Piakura and Jordan Riki, who have both made the right edge their own and just 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 prior as well, but we handled it rather well, according to Reynolds.
“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 who springs to mind is Brendan Piakura; he performed 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 dazzle and show that they are eager to work. We might also see a few surprises from them. It’s fairly obvious that the Broncos consistently develop young players with a tonne of talent coming through.
