Latest news with #QueenslandCup
The Advertiser
7 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
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."
Perth Now
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Hopes Big Ben's return can chime for a 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. 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 South-Logan in the Queensland Cup 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."
The Age
17 hours ago
- Sport
- The Age
The NRL's tallest man gets his Broncos chance. Why has it taken until now?
Broncos rookie Ben Te Kura will at last get his chance in the NRL in 2025, having been forced to fight his way into the side through the Queensland Cup. But despite Brisbane's lack of consistency, and limited support for star props Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan, centre Gehamat Shibasaki has shed light on why the NRL's tallest player has been forced to bide his time. Te Kura has statistically been emphatic for the Souths Logan Magpies, missing just three tackles all year while averaging 105 running metres and more than four tackle busts a game. The 21-year-old has been a lethal try-scoring weapon close to the line, a skill which was on show on debut against the Melbourne Storm and has led to five tries and six line breaks this year. Te Kura may not have made a difference in Brisbane's five defeats from their past six encounters, given how raw he still is and ill-discipline has been the Broncos' primary concern as the second-most penalised team (71). Loading However, his 205-centimetre frame would have posed a point of difference in a pack struggling to make inroads – ranking 13th in the competition for post-contact metres. But Shibasaki revealed Te Kura had been issued a challenge by coach Michael Maguire. 'I think it was just keeping his body comp [composition] down and getting his fitness levels up. He's done really well working hard at that, and I think Madge has seen that,' Shibasaki said.
Sydney Morning Herald
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
The NRL's tallest man gets his Broncos chance. Why has it taken until now?
Broncos rookie Ben Te Kura will at last get his chance in the NRL in 2025, having been forced to fight his way into the side through the Queensland Cup. But despite Brisbane's lack of consistency, and limited support for star props Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan, centre Gehamat Shibasaki has shed light on why the NRL's tallest player has been forced to bide his time. Te Kura has statistically been emphatic for the Souths Logan Magpies, missing just three tackles all year while averaging 105 running metres and more than four tackle busts a game. The 21-year-old has been a lethal try-scoring weapon close to the line, a skill which was on show on debut against the Melbourne Storm and has led to five tries and six line breaks this year. Te Kura may not have made a difference in Brisbane's five defeats from their past six encounters, given how raw he still is and ill-discipline has been the Broncos' primary concern as the second-most penalised team (71). Loading However, his 205-centimetre frame would have posed a point of difference in a pack struggling to make inroads – ranking 13th in the competition for post-contact metres. But Shibasaki revealed Te Kura had been issued a challenge by coach Michael Maguire. 'I think it was just keeping his body comp [composition] down and getting his fitness levels up. He's done really well working hard at that, and I think Madge has seen that,' Shibasaki said.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Crichton sends injury scare through NSW; Haas still hampered by quad complaint
Blues officials will closely monitor Stephen Crichton on Tuesday after the Bulldogs centre sent an injury scare through the NSW camp after failing to finish Monday's training session in Brisbane. Crichton carried a groin injury on the same leg into Canterbury's last game, and was restricted at training as a result. Blues officials were hoping his latest injury was nothing more than a cork. Crichton was not required to undergo scans, but Blues medical staff will keep a close eye on his progress between now and game day. The sight of Crichton limping from the field with an ice pack on his left quad was the last thing Blues coach Laurie Daley wanted to see just 40 hours out from Origin I at Suncorp Stadium. While most eyes were on prop Payne Haas and whether his quad would cope with the first serious hit-out this camp, the Blues were not expecting the game's best centre to exit early. If Crichton is ruled out, South Sydney's Campbell Graham – who filled in at right centre for the remainder of the morning against Queensland Cup side Wynnum Manly – will start and Canterbury's Matt Burton, who has been placed on stand-by, will come in as 18th man. Haas still appeared hampered by his own quad injury, only completing a handful of tackles during the opposed session before reverting to sprint drills on the sideline. Blues officials remain hopeful the Brisbane front-rower will be fit to start at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night, with Stefano Utoikamanu on stand-by.
