Big Ben's return can chime for a loud Broncos boost
Brisbane will unleash their next generation prop Ben Te Kura for the first time this year and he has been backed by a dual international to run riot against Manly.
The Broncos have axed bench prop Fletcher Baker and elevated 21-year-old Te Kura for Saturday night's NRL match after the club's five losses from six games.
Brisbane's 2006 title winner Karmichael Hunt, an Australian representative in two codes, has been coaching Te Kura in the Queensland Cup for Souths Logan Magpies.
Te Kura is the 205cm giant, the tallest in the NRL, who played three matches off the bench in 2024 and impressed.
Now he gets his chance away at Brookvale Oval as coach Michael Maguire backs youth after former New Zealand international Martin Taupau was released from the club.
Te Kura has missed just three tackles in nine matches for the Magpies this year while making 40 tackle busts.
"He is just doing his job really well as a middle - carrying hard and making sure his defensive movements are where they need to be," Hunt told AAP.
"The last few weeks he has been leading from the front and setting a platform and obviously Madge (Maguire) has been happy with him.
"I'm sure Madge's instructions are to cause a bit of havoc. He has got the ability to do that."
Broncos veteran Gehamat Shibasaki said Te Kura would do the job.
"Benny is a big boy. He has done really well and I am proud of him for how he has handled the pre-season and getting his body right and doing his reps in the Q Cup," he said.
"He gives Patty (Carrigan) and Payne (Haas) a run for their money at training so I'm pretty sure if he can handle those boys he can handle anyone. "He's matured a lot. He understood he had to get fit and get his body right. He's done a lot of time with his extras and got his food right and what he needed to do to get in the team.
"Madge has seen that and he's really deserved it."
Broncos hooker Cory Paix said his role with Te Kura was straight forward.
"My job is pretty easy. I just have to give it to the big fella and he can run over the top of them," Paix grinned.
"Ben has been working really hard in the Queensland Cup and deserves his opportunity. I am sure he will do a really good job."
Brisbane will unleash their next generation prop Ben Te Kura for the first time this year and he has been backed by a dual international to run riot against Manly.
The Broncos have axed bench prop Fletcher Baker and elevated 21-year-old Te Kura for Saturday night's NRL match after the club's five losses from six games.
Brisbane's 2006 title winner Karmichael Hunt, an Australian representative in two codes, has been coaching Te Kura in the Queensland Cup for Souths Logan Magpies.
Te Kura is the 205cm giant, the tallest in the NRL, who played three matches off the bench in 2024 and impressed.
Now he gets his chance away at Brookvale Oval as coach Michael Maguire backs youth after former New Zealand international Martin Taupau was released from the club.
Te Kura has missed just three tackles in nine matches for the Magpies this year while making 40 tackle busts.
"He is just doing his job really well as a middle - carrying hard and making sure his defensive movements are where they need to be," Hunt told AAP.
"The last few weeks he has been leading from the front and setting a platform and obviously Madge (Maguire) has been happy with him.
"I'm sure Madge's instructions are to cause a bit of havoc. He has got the ability to do that."
Broncos veteran Gehamat Shibasaki said Te Kura would do the job.
"Benny is a big boy. He has done really well and I am proud of him for how he has handled the pre-season and getting his body right and doing his reps in the Q Cup," he said.
"He gives Patty (Carrigan) and Payne (Haas) a run for their money at training so I'm pretty sure if he can handle those boys he can handle anyone. "He's matured a lot. He understood he had to get fit and get his body right. He's done a lot of time with his extras and got his food right and what he needed to do to get in the team.
"Madge has seen that and he's really deserved it."
Broncos hooker Cory Paix said his role with Te Kura was straight forward.
"My job is pretty easy. I just have to give it to the big fella and he can run over the top of them," Paix grinned.
"Ben has been working really hard in the Queensland Cup and deserves his opportunity. I am sure he will do a really good job."
Brisbane will unleash their next generation prop Ben Te Kura for the first time this year and he has been backed by a dual international to run riot against Manly.
The Broncos have axed bench prop Fletcher Baker and elevated 21-year-old Te Kura for Saturday night's NRL match after the club's five losses from six games.
Brisbane's 2006 title winner Karmichael Hunt, an Australian representative in two codes, has been coaching Te Kura in the Queensland Cup for Souths Logan Magpies.
Te Kura is the 205cm giant, the tallest in the NRL, who played three matches off the bench in 2024 and impressed.
Now he gets his chance away at Brookvale Oval as coach Michael Maguire backs youth after former New Zealand international Martin Taupau was released from the club.
Te Kura has missed just three tackles in nine matches for the Magpies this year while making 40 tackle busts.
"He is just doing his job really well as a middle - carrying hard and making sure his defensive movements are where they need to be," Hunt told AAP.
"The last few weeks he has been leading from the front and setting a platform and obviously Madge (Maguire) has been happy with him.
"I'm sure Madge's instructions are to cause a bit of havoc. He has got the ability to do that."
Broncos veteran Gehamat Shibasaki said Te Kura would do the job.
"Benny is a big boy. He has done really well and I am proud of him for how he has handled the pre-season and getting his body right and doing his reps in the Q Cup," he said.
"He gives Patty (Carrigan) and Payne (Haas) a run for their money at training so I'm pretty sure if he can handle those boys he can handle anyone. "He's matured a lot. He understood he had to get fit and get his body right. He's done a lot of time with his extras and got his food right and what he needed to do to get in the team.
"Madge has seen that and he's really deserved it."
Broncos hooker Cory Paix said his role with Te Kura was straight forward.
"My job is pretty easy. I just have to give it to the big fella and he can run over the top of them," Paix grinned.
"Ben has been working really hard in the Queensland Cup and deserves his opportunity. I am sure he will do a really good job."
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Newcastle's loss followed an encouraging win over a Penrith side missing five players to NSW Origin duties a week earlier in Bathurst. O'Brien's men remain within touching distance of the top eight but they will need to go up a gear over the next month, where three of their four games are at home, if they are to make the finals. The Knights are hopeful of having Greg Marzhew back to face the Sea Eagles next week but Bradman Best and Jacob Saifiti remain a long way from fitness. "I think within the next month, we should get the majority of our personnel back on deck," O'Brien said. "You're always concerned a little bit, but you can't get caught up in (who is available). "We've got to get caught up in playing Manly at home next week and making sure that we get that right and fixing some of our discipline." Adam O'Brien's fury over the NRL draw is set to be compounded with Newcastle prop Leo Thompson handed a four-game ban from head office. Less than 12 hours on from O'Brien labelling the draw as "ridiculous" after Kalyn Ponga sat out the 20-6 loss to St George Illawarra, the Knights suffered another blow on Saturday. Thompson was hit with a grade-two charge for a crusher tackle on Hamish Stewart, with two previous offences since late last year meaning he is facing an extended ban. The Kiwi front-rower can accept a four-match suspension, or risk a fifth on the sidelines if he fights the charge and loses. Thompson's ban will do little to ease pressure on O'Brien, with Newcastle having won two of their last 10 games and on a downward spiral. Ponga was part of the Queensland side who lost the State of Origin series opener on Wednesday, but at O'Brien's insistence was put on ice for Friday's loss to the Dragons. The fullback has been carrying an ankle injury through the Maroons camp but is expected to play next Thursday's home game against Manly. O'Brien said he rested Ponga for his own good but claimed his side had been given no favours by the NRL's draw. "In this battle we lost to the scheduling and the draw," O'Brien said. "Someone has got to play Friday … we get that but then they hit us next Thursday as well so it would have been three games in eight days (for Ponga). "I always knew that once the draw came out we would cop the Friday after Origin, but it would have been good if someone said, give them the Saturday or the Sunday the following week. "But whoever does the draws either hasn't lived it or doesn't care, so I don't know which one it is. "You have got teams like Canberra who haven't had a bye yet and then you have got teams who haven't left home in seven games in a row. It's ridiculous." Newcastle's loss followed an encouraging win over a Penrith side missing five players to NSW Origin duties a week earlier in Bathurst. O'Brien's men remain within touching distance of the top eight but they will need to go up a gear over the next month, where three of their four games are at home, if they are to make the finals. The Knights are hopeful of having Greg Marzhew back to face the Sea Eagles next week but Bradman Best and Jacob Saifiti remain a long way from fitness. "I think within the next month, we should get the majority of our personnel back on deck," O'Brien said. "You're always concerned a little bit, but you can't get caught up in (who is available). "We've got to get caught up in playing Manly at home next week and making sure that we get that right and fixing some of our discipline." Adam O'Brien's fury over the NRL draw is set to be compounded with Newcastle prop Leo Thompson handed a four-game ban from head office. Less than 12 hours on from O'Brien labelling the draw as "ridiculous" after Kalyn Ponga sat out the 20-6 loss to St George Illawarra, the Knights suffered another blow on Saturday. Thompson was hit with a grade-two charge for a crusher tackle on Hamish Stewart, with two previous offences since late last year meaning he is facing an extended ban. The Kiwi front-rower can accept a four-match suspension, or risk a fifth on the sidelines if he fights the charge and loses. Thompson's ban will do little to ease pressure on O'Brien, with Newcastle having won two of their last 10 games and on a downward spiral. Ponga was part of the Queensland side who lost the State of Origin series opener on Wednesday, but at O'Brien's insistence was put on ice for Friday's loss to the Dragons. The fullback has been carrying an ankle injury through the Maroons camp but is expected to play next Thursday's home game against Manly. O'Brien said he rested Ponga for his own good but claimed his side had been given no favours by the NRL's draw. "In this battle we lost to the scheduling and the draw," O'Brien said. "Someone has got to play Friday … we get that but then they hit us next Thursday as well so it would have been three games in eight days (for Ponga). "I always knew that once the draw came out we would cop the Friday after Origin, but it would have been good if someone said, give them the Saturday or the Sunday the following week. "But whoever does the draws either hasn't lived it or doesn't care, so I don't know which one it is. "You have got teams like Canberra who haven't had a bye yet and then you have got teams who haven't left home in seven games in a row. It's ridiculous." Newcastle's loss followed an encouraging win over a Penrith side missing five players to NSW Origin duties a week earlier in Bathurst. O'Brien's men remain within touching distance of the top eight but they will need to go up a gear over the next month, where three of their four games are at home, if they are to make the finals. The Knights are hopeful of having Greg Marzhew back to face the Sea Eagles next week but Bradman Best and Jacob Saifiti remain a long way from fitness. "I think within the next month, we should get the majority of our personnel back on deck," O'Brien said. "You're always concerned a little bit, but you can't get caught up in (who is available). "We've got to get caught up in playing Manly at home next week and making sure that we get that right and fixing some of our discipline."
