LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
The injury plague hitting the Brisbane Broncos has forced them to consider throwing a young, untested rookie forward into the mix for their upcoming Round 19 showdown against the St George Illawarra Dragons.
With a whopping 13 players on the sidelines due to injuries or State of Origin duties, Jock Madden, Reece Walsh, Sewlyn Cobbo, Patrick Carrigan, and Payne Haas are just some of the big names missing from the Broncos lineup this week.
In a bid to fill the gaps, Josh Rogers will step in for the injured Madden in the halves, while Tristan Sailor will take over Walsh's spot.
However, all eyes are on an unknown rookie set to make his NRL debut off the interchange bench.
One to watch, Va'a Semu recently secured a three-year NRL contract and has now been fast-tracked to the 2024 development list.
Coach Kevin Walters is reportedly considering unleashing Semu in the Round 19 clash, as reported by The Courier Mail.
Standing at an impressive 194cm and weighing in at 110kg, Semu's physical presence has drawn comparisons to star player Payne Haas.
The young gun has been honing his skills in the QLD Cup with the Souths Logan Magpies, preparing for his shot at the big time on the NRL stage.