Brisbane legend Darius Boyd has given star fullback Reece Walsh and his fellow outside backs the “kryptonite” to weaken opposition attacks ahead of their NRL Pre-Season Challenge clash with the Gold Coast.
That’s the word from Broncos winger Jordan Pereira who will play on Sunday at the Sunshine Coast in a side that includes a suite of NRL regular starters.
Prop Payne Haas will captain an outfit that includes centres Herbie Farnworth and Kotoni Staggs along with five-eighth Ezra Mam.
Walsh will start at fullback in his first game for the club on return from the Warriors.
Boyd has been employed by the Broncos on a part-time basis to coach the fullbacks, wingers and centres.
Coach Kevin Walters said last year the former Broncos fullback would be a positive impact on Walsh, particularly in defence where the side must improve.
Pereira, from a player’s perspective, said Boyd’s influence had been crucial on all the outside backs.
“Darbs has been tremendous for me personally and understands the modern game very well,” Pereira said.
“He understands what fullbacks are trying to do to the defence so he has got the antidote … the kryptonite to try and come up against it.
“He has been massive with the small nuances of the defence … to solve things.
“When he got the ball at fullback when he was playing he said his first cue was to look at what their winger was doing and make a decision. He is trying to do the opposite and work from the reverse end and that has helped me massively.”
Pereira said Walsh had been loud at training with his communication in defence, an area Boyd has been working extensively with him.
“On the field it is definitely important that we hear him and he is making sure he gets that done,’ he said.
“I am super excited to play with someone who can pull a rabbit out of the hat at any moment.”
Captain Adam Reynolds will not play in the first NRL Pre-Season Challenge match but at training on Tuesday he was walking behind the main group and barking orders and advice like a coach.
“When you hear something coming from someone like him, you listen,” Pereira said.
“Today (at training) my positioning was five metres out of position for my pendulum shape on a kick. They didn’t kick it, but he said, ‘You need to be five metres this way’. I said, ‘Yep, my bad’.”
The Titans, meanwhile, have also named a host of stars for the clash, including David Fifita and Jayden Campbell.
But fellow big names Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, AJ Brimson, Kieran Foran, Beau Fermor and Isaac Liu will be rested.
BRONCOS: 1 Reece Walsh, 2 Jordan Pereira, 3 Kotoni Staggs, 4 Herbie Farnworth, 5 Deine Mariner, 6 Ezra Mam, 7 Jack Ahearn, 8 Thomas Flegler, 9 Cory Paix, 10 Payne Haas ©, 11 Shalom O’Ofou, 12 Brendan Frei, 13 Corey Jensen. Interchange – Billy Walters, Logan Bayliss, Martin Taupau, Ben Te Kura, Ethan Quai-Ward, Tyson Smoothy, Tristan Sailor, Josh Rogers, James Johnson.
TITANS: 1 Jayden Campbell, 2 Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 3 Aaron Schoupp, 4 Phillip Sami, 5 Sosefo Fifita, 6 Toby Sexton, 7 Tanah Boyd, 8 Jaimin Jolliffe, 9 Chris Randall, 10 Joe Stimson, 11 David Fifita, 12 Klese Haas, 13 Erin Clark. Interchange – Sam McIntyre, Iszac Fa’asumaleaui, Jo Vuna, Treymain Spry, Thomas Weaver, Keano Kini, Jaylan De Groot, Tony Francis, Josiah Pahulu, Vaka Sikahele, Jacob Alick, Ryan Foran, Jaron Purcell.
Game day schedule for Sunday, February 12
- 2.15pm: Gates open at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
- 2.30pm: Hastings Deering Colts trial: Sunshine Coast Falcons v Ipswich Jets.
- 3.55pm: Connect Rugby League exhibition.
- 4.45pm: Hostplus Cup trial: Sunshine Coast Falcons v Ipswich Jets.
- 7.05pm: NRL trial – Brisbane Broncos v Gold Coast Titans.
See more via Sunshine Coast Stadium.
