The Brisbane Broncos have announced that forward Preston Riki is scheduled for surgery due to a syndesmosis injury sustained during the team's defeat to the North Queensland Cowboys on Saturday.
There is currently no set timeline for Riki's return; the situation will be evaluated post-surgery.
In the 20th minute of the match, Ben Talty stepped in for Riki after he left the field in pain, with his left foot significantly bandaged, and he did not return to play.
The 28-year-old made his NRL debut with the Penrith Panthers in 2024, following several years in the NSW Cup, struggling to carve out a spot in the elite premiership-winning side.
After not receiving a contract extension from the Panthers for 2025, he signed a train-and-trial agreement with the Broncos, where he has developed into a legitimate NRL-level athlete.
Riki's surgery will require coach Michael Maguire to adjust his lineup for the upcoming match against the Newcastle Knights on Saturday.
Team rosters will be revealed on Tuesday afternoon, indicating who will fill the front-row gap left by Riki.
This season, Riki has played in 10 games for the Broncos, starting in eight, as the club has struggled to establish consistency amid a difficult campaign.
The Broncos' 18-10 defeat to the Cowboys last week has confirmed that they will not participate in the finals series during their title defense season in 2026.
