Exploring Brisbane Broncos Recruitment From Aotearoa
Observing Brisbane Broncos matters from Aotearoa makes one wonder how past glories don't exactly mean that everything should be supreme here and now. Times change, cycles come to an end and with Broncos recruitment/retention a peak yarn right now there is a splash of #KiwiNRL funk to explore with the Broncos.
By #KiwiNRL funk, I don't mean Reece Walsh's kiwi mother. Despite what's going on with the Broncos decision-makers, their recruitment out of Aotearoa is of such a quality that it seems as though 'Broncos mana' is still a factor with the #KiwiNRL prospects.
The Broncos have always had a #KiwiNRL presence, even if it was Tonie Carroll and Brad Thorn doing whatever floated their boat. The likes of Alex Glenn, Jordan Kahu and Kodi Nikorima are all fairly notable #KiwiNRL players of the past decade and all share the fact that they moved to Australia before sliding into the Broncos system. Adam Blair spent time with the Broncos, having been initially snared out of Northland by Melbourne Storm.
Jamayne Isaako is a bridge between Broncos eras. Isaako was recruited by Cronulla Sharks out of Christchurch and cracked the 2015 Junior Kiwis as Sharks fullback, before the lure of the Broncos came in and Isaako moved into the Broncos system; Isaako played 2016 Junior Kiwis in the halves via Broncos.
Something has changed in Broncos #KiwiNRL recruitment antics as they didn't seem to dive too deep into the Aotearoa rugby league talent pool. Meanwhile, the Roosters have #KiwiNRL prospects recruited straight out of Aotearoa in most of their junior rep teams. Below is a breakdown of the Canberra Raiders #KiwiNRL stocks, which is notable for the spread of 1st 15 rugby talent as well as rugby league talent...
Raiders NSW Cup
Matthew Timoko: Auckland Rugby League and Auckland Grammar 1st 15.
Leo Thompson: Napier Boys High School 1st 15.
Sila Tituiti: St Kents 1st 15.
Raiders SG Ball (U19)
Jack Sandford: Christchurch Boys 1st 15.
Sione Moala: NZ Warriors SG Ball.
North Queensland Cowboys reach far and wide across Aotearoa. They have Northland's Wiremu Greig on the fringe of their NRL squad, as well as Greymouth's Griffin Neame and the Cowboys appear to have had Canterbury's Fa'atili brothers in their system fairly early which brings us back around to the Broncos. As most NRL clubs in Australia fill their tanks with #KiwiNRL prospects, the Broncos target top-tier talent and are doing a fairly decent job at it.
The Fa'atili brothers both appear to be with the Broncos this year. Caius burst on to radars with his performances for Canterbury in the NZRL National Premiership as a teenager, coming through St Thomas of Canterbury school where Jordan Riki also emerged. Caius and Felix have been decorated NZRL representative players, who like Riki stayed at school in Christchurch and as 2020 was a write-off, they are now in Brisbane.
Riki was hunted by most NRL clubs and chose the Broncos. The move of the Fa'atili brothers from being aligned with the Cowboys to now being in the Broncos could be viewed as reinforcing the Broncos mana that Riki connected with. Felix is the younger brother and he's playing with the Norths Devils Mal Meninga Cup team, while Caius is named in the Wynnum Manly Seagulls Hasting Deering Colts Under 21s squad; both clubs are affiliated with Broncos.
Those three have strong cases as the best South Island #KiwiNRL prospects in recent times. Riki has already settled into a starting edge forward role, while the Fa'atili brothers have been whispered about for a while. The Broncos made another high level recruitment move a few years ago when the lured Rory Ferguson to Brisbane - from John McGlashan College in the deep south.
Ferguson is now playing Intrust Super Cup for Souths Logan and hasn't transitioned to Broncos NRL business, while his younger brother Leroy has also spent time with the Broncos. Neither are NRL factors, although it's a sign of Broncos signing high quality South Island talent and these players wanting to join the Broncos.
Now, there is a super fresh Broncos prospect coming through with Xavier Willison.
Hailing from Hamilton, Willison played NZRL rep footy for Wai-Coa Bay and made the 2017 National Under 15s Youth Tournament team alongside; Graham-Taufa twins (Roosters), Naufahu Whyte (Roosters) and Simisi Sikei (Sharks). Willison then moved to Gold Coast and attended Palm Beach Currumbin before linking up with the Broncos where he cracked a Bronco a few weeks ago, straight out of school.
Willison is a large, mobile forward and he has slotted straight into ISC footy to start the season. Willison played 28 minutes off the bench for Norths Devils, in the same team as Brendan Piakura who has been front and centre of recent Broncos headlines. Between Riki, the Fa'atili brothers and Willison, the Broncos may have the four most dynamic forward prospects from Aotearoa in my time covering such matters.
I'm not sure if the Broncos brought Willison across from Aotearoa, or if they snapped him up after seeing him play for PBC (who rival Keebra Park). NRL clubs do lure players across with school scholarships, regardless of that though is the fact that Willison has obviously commanded attention and he chose to join the Broncos.
As we have seen in recent years and as we are seeing right now, the Broncos don't have any issues finding talent. Despite all NRL clubs having access to Queensland talent just like all NRL clubs have acces to Aotearoa talent, the Broncos still have immense junior talent in their systems and this includes players recruited from Aotearoa. With so much talent, keeping the best requires supreme salary cap management and this is where the Broncos stumble.
There has been a key shift in the Broncos #KiwiNRL talent. First we had to stretch to claim Broncos #KiwiNRL talent and then many kiwis migrated to Queensland which gave us the Glenn/Nikorima types. Now the Broncos target specific prospects from Aotearoa and despite their woes, they are still enjoying some of Aotearoa's finest up and coming talent.
Peace and love.