Rookie Watch: The TEN best young prospects yet to debut at Brisbane Broncos

After winning the 2025 NRL premiership, the Brisbane Broncos will need to rely on the next generation of young players coming through their ranks as they aim to create a dynasty. Over the past couple of years, the likes of front-rower Benjamin Te Kura and hooker Blake Mozer have been introduced to the NRL after successfully progressing through the club's ranks. So...who's next? These are the 'Top Ten' young players that have yet to make their NRL debuts and are currently contracted to the Brisbane Broncos. Honourable Mentions Outside of the 'Top Ten', the Broncos have plenty of great young players who are slowly progressing through the ranks. Some back-line players to watch include Saxon Innes, Seth Gundry and recently NRL Schoolboy Cup winner Siosaia Poese. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dWAVbfVJaw Dirhys Sefo and Preston Cassidy headline the most impressive forwards that are on the club's books and set to make waves in the coming seasons. Five-eighth Bailey McConnell and Nate Berrigan, the son of former Bronco Barry Berrigan and nephew of Shaun Berrigan, should also be watched closely by fans over the next few years. Braithen Scott Braithen Scott may be behind Coby Black in the pecking order, but that hasn't stopped the elite Toowoomba halfback from making a name for himself and developing into one of the Broncos' best prospects. Transitioning from fullback to the halves, Scott will join the club's development list next season and will look to get some reps in the QLD Cup after showing some bright spots in his game in the 2025 NRLQ Series. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxHlG6Ht-Ys Hailing from St Mary's College in Toowoomba - the same school that Johnathan Thurston attended - he will continue to develop over the next few years but has already amassed a strong highlights package during his time in the Cyril Connell Cup and Mal Meninga Cup. Jett Bryce A member of this year's Broncos development list, Jett Bryce is another top forward coming through the club's pathways system which saw him named in Queensland's Under-19s Emerging Origin squad. Aggressive on both ends of the field, the back-rower has strong energy with the ball in his hands and isn't afraid to produce strong tackles on the edge or middle of the field. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7nbgHW7Hbw Yet to fully develop as a player, Bryce has spent the past three seasons in the Mal Meninga Cup (one with Wynnum Manly Seagulls and two with Burleigh Bears) and was a lead feature in this year's NRLQ Series for the Broncos. Jared Horne An exceptional back-rower for his age, Jared Horne is another young prospect who will join the Broncos' development list next season and is regarded as one of the state's best young forwards with Brian Pouniu and Tupou Francis. Hailing from the famed Wavell State High School, Horne is coming off a strong past 12 months, which saw him represent the Junior Kumuls and Under-17s Queensland City side. One of the favourites to be named in next year's Under-19s Queensland squad, he spent some time with the Broncos first-grade squad this season which saw him feature in the club's pre-season match against the Burleigh Bears in February. Phillip Coates The younger brother of Xavier Coates, Phillip, is the spitting image of his older brother and recently landed his maiden NRL contract, which will see him join the Broncos development list for the 2026 season. A damaging finisher on the wing, the Currumbin Eagles flyer has been tipped for a bright and long future in rugby league. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhHLkc4Q2Cw Representing the Junior Kumuls in 2024 and the Under-19s Queensland Maroons in 2025, Coates will learn a ton from the likes of Deine Mariner, Grant Anderson, Josiah Karapani and Kotoni Staggs during the next few years before taking the leap to first-grade. Michael Waqa Formerly a member of The Dolphins' Top 30 roster, Michael Waqa joined the Broncos in the hope of new opportunities and still has plenty of growth in his game. An Under-17s and Under-19s Queensland representative, the forward is a former captain of the Redcliffe Dolphins' Mal Meninga Cup side and will be looking to impress in the pre-season. https://youtu.be/NTAQ3FVW9SA Primarily playing in the Under-20s NRLQ Series this year, he did get the opportunity to play in the NRL Pre-Season Challenge in 2025 against the North Queensland Cowboys and has yet to reach his ceiling as a player. Va'a Semu Contracted until the end of 2027, Va'a Semu stands at an impressive 194cm and 110kg and leads the next breed of young forwards coming through the Broncos ranks alongside Benjamin Te Kura. While he still has plenty of room to develop, he has shown glimpses of potential in the QLD Cup over the past couple of seasons and should be ready for a taste of first-grade at the backend of 2026 or the following year in 2027. In 15 appearances in 2025, he scored four tries, made 18 tackle busts and 164 tackles and went on to average 103 running metres per match. The club have decided not to rush his development and will likely take a similar approach to him as they have done for Te Kura. Antonio Verhoeven A member of the 2025 Australian Schoolboys side, Antonio Verhoeven has been tipped by club officials to take the NRL by storm and will join the Broncos' first-grade squad for the first time in 2026. Originally discovered on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, Verhoeven started out as a versatile forward but has since transitioned to either the centres or on the wing, where he has been able to amass a ton of highlights in his short career to date. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7UcfGXzaOc Also talented in athletics, basketball and rugby union, he stands at a formidable 198cm and attended the Palm Beach Currumbin. Described as the "complete package" by former NRL winger Anthony Don, Verhoeven shouldn't be counted out in defence either and can produce some massive one-on-one tackles. Tupou Francis The brother of Gold Coast Titans winger Tony Francis, Tupou Francis, is highly-regarded among club officials and is seen as one of the best forward prospects not only in Queensland but also in rugby league. Already locked in until the end of 2028, Francis has had a stellar past 12 months which saw him lead the Burleigh Bears to the Under-19s Mal Meninga Cup and draw comparisons to Kangaroos skipper Isaah Yeo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MJL1N_WY18&t=368s Primarily playing at lock, the Under-17s QLD City representative will learn a ton from the likes of Patrick Carrigan and coach Michael Maguire as he continues to further his development heading into the future. This comes after he recently graduated from the famed Marsden State High School where he was one of their best performers in the Langer Trophy competition and will join the club's development list next season. Cameron Bukowski The son of Gary Bukowski, who made over 30 appearances for the Western Suburbs Magpies and had a stint for Southern Suburbs in the Brisbane Rugby League competition, Cameron has been regarded as the long-term No.9 of the Broncos. Still on 20, Bukowski will remain on the club's development list next season and is one of the best young talents coming out of Queensland that is yet to make his first-grade debut. A Villanova College graduate who was also an exceptional cricket and rugby union talent, he was named in the Under-19s Queensland squad earlier this year and has been making a name for himself in the QLD Cup. In 23 matches, he scored seven tries, provided seven try assists and five line-break assists, made 1558 passes and 561 total tackles at an efficiency rate of 94.4 per cent, as well as running 801 total metres. Coby Black Discovered at the age of 12, Coby Black has had big wraps on him since a young age and has long been earmarked as the successor of the Broncos' No.7 jumper, which is currently occupied by Adam Reynolds. Still waiting in the wings, he has been able to develop under several NRL players, including the likes of Reynolds, Darren Nicholls, Issac Luke, Sean O'Sullivan and four-time premiership winner Nathan Cleary, as he continues to further his development. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFSllSAEifA Drawing comparisons to the incumbent Broncos halfback, Black (contracted until the end of 2026) represented the Under-19s Queensland Maroons side earlier this year. He has also taken his game to new heights over the past couple of seasons with the Souths Logan Magpies in the Mal Meninga Cup and QLD Cup and fans can expect him to make his NRL debut sooner than most other rookies.