Michael Maguire hit with Reece Walsh dilemma after season-ending injury blow

Yahoo

17-02-2025

Broncos coach Michael Maguire is set to lose exciting star Hayze Perham for the season after the 25-year-old reportedly tore his ACL during the trial game against the Titans on the weekend. Perham had been one of the few players to have made a huge impression on Maguire in his brutal pre-season camp.
The fullback was training the house down and showed he was ready to replace any star who suffered an injury in the backline with Perham also proving to be a capable replacement for Reece Walsh. However, reports suggest Perham suffered an ACL injury when running up for a hit-up on the weekend.
Footage shows Perham stepping back onto his left, but buckling as he braced for impact. Perham left the field limping with seven minutes left in the first-half.
Unfortunately, reports suggest Perham will miss the entire 2025 NRL season. NRL Physio, Brien Seeney, claimed it appeared to be a textbook non-contact knee injury and recovery time would be around nine months. This would rule the 25-year-old out for his first season at the Broncos after a career switch.
Perham made the move from the Bulldogs to join the Broncos under Maguire with the hope he would get some NRL action. While Selwyn Cobbo could have replaced Walsh at fullback, Perham was selected in the trial game against the Titans and was looking to be a solid deputy across the entire backline in 2025.
Perham was part of the Broncos outfit that looked fit and sharp as they hammered the Titans 50-12 with a number of players putting their hands up for selection. One such player was Corey Paix who is making a real case to be the starting No.9 in round one for Maguire's Broncos outfit.
Reports Hayze Perham will miss the 2025 season after rupturing his ACL in the Broncos trial (via @9NewsBrisbane)His last run involved a textbook non-contact/change of direction mechanism for his right knee. Would be facing reconstruction surgery and ~9 months recovery time. pic.twitter.com/gxKC6mvXot
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) February 17, 2025
Bad news for the Broncos with reports emerging new recruit Hayze Perham suffered a ruptured ACL yesterday.Brisbane had hoped he would provide depth in an outside back corps ravaged by injury in 2024 and his loss is a sizeable blow.
— The League Scene (@LeagueScenePod) February 17, 2025
Paix has been one of the stars of the Broncos pre-season so far having potentially leapfrogged Billy Walters in the starting side. Under former coach Kevin Walters, Billy played No.9 for the 2024 season with Paix overlooked.
However, Paix continues to push his case to take the starting jersey off Walters and didn't do his chances any harm on the weekend. Paix scored two tries as he showcased his speed from dummy-half in an exciting audition. Paix said he followed Maguire's instructions prior to the game and is ready to take that starting position if given the opportunity.
"I went out and did my job. Madge (Maguire) gave me clear instructions to go out and front-load. I felt really good and I felt comfortable," Paix said. "I always thought I had to go back (to Queensland Cup in 2024) and work really hard. I did that at Wynnum. To train well in pre-season and play well today was pleasing. It is a clean slate here. I knew if I went and worked hard I would give myself a chance to be there round one."
Another potential player who looked promising in the Broncos' first hit-out was Kobe Hetherington. Former coach Walters wasn't overly keen on Hetherington with the forward told he could potentially look for a new club.
However, Maguire reversed the decision and told Hetherington he had an opportunity to show him he could be a starter. And Hetherington pushed his case to start at lock for the 2025 season, which would see Patrick Carrigan move into the front row. Towering Broncos prop Ben Te Kura is also firming for a potential bench position for the Broncos' opening game of the season.