Brendan Piakura has been ruled out of Brisbane’s Round 23 showdown against the Melbourne Storm as the club continues to take a cautious approach following his latest concussion scare, his third of the season and fifth in the past four years.
The 23-year-old back-rower copped a head knock at the Broncos’ captain’s run last Thursday, ruling him out of the 60-14 win over South Sydney.
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Brisbane coach Michael Maguire confirmed Piakura has since returned to training but will not be risked this week, with the club prioritising his long-term health over a short-term selection.
Technique concerns, future questions
“We’ll manage this, but Brendan is fine,” Maguire said. “He’s been back at training (after missing the Souths game,) but we’re just making sure that we manage ‘Brendy’ in the right way. The first point of what I have always done is care for the player, and that (his tackle technique) is something we have looked at.”
The club is now urging Piakura to adapt his defensive technique to prevent further damage, following multiple head knocks suffered in both matches and training. He previously failed a HIA in a Queensland Cup final shortly after his NRL debut in 2021, and has struggled to string games together since.
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Former Broncos captain Corey Parker voiced his concerns, saying: “It is a real worry. Brendan is a massive talent, but unfortunately, he seems to be in the mould of Victor Radley with his concussions.
“I love his aggression and the way he plays the game, but he’s no good to anyone if he’s constantly on the sidelines with head knocks. If he wants to be a long-term NRL player, he’s going to have to make adjustments.”
In his absence, Jack Gosiewski starts in the back row, with Jaiyden Hunt and new recruit Ben Talty named on the bench.