Joel Gould
Fullback Hayze Perham will start his first match in 964 days against his former club, as Brisbane prepare to unleash two more club debutants amid an injury crisis.
Prop Va’a Semu will make his NRL debut while utility forward Preston Riki will be handed a club debut against Canterbury at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
Centre Kotoni Staggs (foot) has been given the green light after playing through injury in round seven, but fullback Jesse Arthars (leg) did not get through a fitness test on Thursday.
Perham, who came off the bench for his club debut last week, slots into the starting custodian role.
Winger Deine Mariner, who went down with a knee injury at training on Tuesday night, will take his place in the side.
Perham played his last starting match for the Bulldogs in round 27 of 2023.
An ACL injury wiped out his 2025 season at Brisbane, but coach Michael Maguire has full faith in the classy 26-year-old Kiwi.
“Hayze has been through a fair bit and believe it or not he is playing against his old team, so it’s funny how it works,” Maguire said.
“It’s another great story of a player who has come back from a knee, and he is bouncing around and he’s excited. We’re able to give him some time there last week, so he will fit in really well.”
Perham’s experience at NRL level is a plus for the Broncos who have 12 players unavailable for selection.
“He has a played a fair bit of first grade at fullback, so he knows what he is doing at the back,” Maguire said.
“When you come back from a knee, it takes a bit of time to find your straps and he is getting into that space now so it’s really exciting.”
The coach said Arthars had “a bit of a cork down his shin and it bled into the calf”.
In last week’s gutsy 21-20 away win over Wests Tigers, the club blooded hooker Cameron Bukowski as Bronco No.301 and Perham (No.302).
Numbers 303 and 304, in an order to be decided, will now go to towering 194-centimetre and 110-kilogram front-rower Semu and former Penrith forward Riki, who has also represented Maori All Stars.
“It’s great for those two boys,” Maguire said.
“They are both pretty decent-sized humans, so it’s nice to have those guys coming in.”
With trusty captain Adam Reynolds steering the ship, Maguire said the under strength team would “rip in” like they did last week.
“The squad has done a fantastic job. They have galvanised around what they were able to achieve last week,” he said.
“We have to put that aside and do it again, because that is what is going to be demanded come tomorrow night.”
AAP
