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.
Ben Te Kura in action during the Brisbane Broncos’ 2025 preseason.Credit: NRL Photos
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).
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.
“He gives Patty and Payne a run for their money at training, so I’m sure if he can handle those boys he can handle anyone.
“He’s matured a lot, he understood he had to get fit and his body right, and he’s spent a lot of time on his extras and got his food right.
“I’m proud of him for how he’s handled coming through the preseason, getting his body right and doing his reps at QCup.”
While Te Kura gets his chance, hooker Blaze Mozer remains without NRL minutes this year.
The 21-year-old, who suffered a back injury on the eve of the NRL season, has been a constant threat around the Magpies’ ruck – coming up with six try assists, five line-break assists and four line breaks in seven appearances.
Next year looms as Mozer’s greatest chance to cement himself, with Tyson Smoothy moving to England and Cory Paix yet to secure a deal beyond 2025.
Paix was unwilling to be drawn on his contract negotiations, but admitted while he desired to remain a Bronco for the rest of his career “sometimes in life you don’t always get what you want”.
With Mozer lurking, Paix’s return to the starting side against the Sea Eagles on Saturday will be a pivotal moment in earning a Red Hill lifeline.
“Respectfully, I’ll probably just keep those comments in house. I’ll need to go out and play some good footy first before I get a contract,” Paix said.
“I’m hearing Blakey is playing really well in the Queensland Cup, and I’m happy for him to be doing that, and coming into training he’s pushing Bill and myself every day.
“If we keep driving those standards this place is going to be in a really good spot.”
