Ezra Mam provided the dazzle.
But the performance of another young Bronco in the come-from-the-clouds victory over the Canterbury Bulldogs has coach Michael Maguire excited about the future.
Post-match, Maguire was glowing in his thoughts on 22-year-old forward Xavier Willison who stepped up in the absence of Origin stars Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan, as well as late-withdrawal Corey Jensen.
“He’s grown hasn’t he, it’s been great to watch,” Maguire said of the 199cm giant from Hamilton, New Zealand, who also terrorised the Bulldogs back in Round 8.
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“Without our bigger boys around, and the size of our pack, he took ownership tonight,” Maguire continued.
“He’s got so much more in him too, which is exciting.”
Willison led the match with 20 runs for 205 run metres, four tackle breaks and 43 tackles in 68 minutes of high octane action.
The Broncos Academy graduate made his NRL debut in Round 20 of 2021 and has played 46 games for Brisbane.
Brisbane next play the struggling Gold Coast Titans away in Round 19 with Maguire’s men chasing their fifth consecutive NRL win.
X STANDING UP 😤 pic.twitter.com/cbcOtqyqC1
— Brisbane Broncos (@brisbanebroncos) July 4, 2025