The Brisbane Broncos will be without superstar fullback Reece Walsh for the rest of the year following a nasty hip-drop tackle from Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad on Saturday, leaving the reigning Clive Churchill Medallist racing against the clock to be fit for Australia's World Cup campaign in October.
In the meantime, the Courier-Mail is reporting Hayze Perham will be the man to step up to the fullback duties for the premiers in their remaining three games of the season.
Perham has impressed in his four appearances for the Broncos in 2026 and has done enough for the club to activate their option to have him remain at Red Hill for 2027 as a handy back-up for when Walsh is missing.
The 27-year-old fullback was in everything in the Broncos' 32-12 win over the Bulldogs in Round 8, while Walsh was out injured with a fractured cheekbone.
Perham has played 39 NRL games across stints at the Warriors, Eels and the Bulldogs, before signing a two-year deal with the Broncos with an option in Brisbane's favour for the second year.
Michael Maguire has seen enough in his short time at the club to activate the 2027 contract and watch Perham continue to build into a consistent first-grader.
Perham suffered an ACL rupture in the preseason of 2025 in a trial match against the Gold Coast Titans, casting a significant amount of doubt on his future at the club, especially given the conditions of his contract with the club calling the shots.
Perham expressed his gratitude to the Broncos earlier this year and is enjoying his time surrounded by one of the game's best players.
“I'd love to stay here,” Perham told the Courier Mail.
“I love the staff, I love all the boys and especially the faith that they showed me to sign me midway through a knee reconstruction rehab, was a huge moment for me.
“Reece is definitely a character.
“To be around a player like that, even though he's a bit younger, he's a bit cheekier, but to learn off him, it's amazing.”
Meanwhile, it is expected Tom Duffy will be dropped from the halfback jersey in favour of Ben Hunt for this week's upcoming clash against the Raiders.
Duffy had his opportunity to cement his case for being the long-term chief playmaking option after Adam Reynolds retires at year's end, but failed to deliver in back-to-back heavy defeats.
Duffty will be neck-and-neck with incoming half Jonah Pezet for the role next year.
Hunt will partner Ezra Mam in the halves, with the club in deep enemy territory on Friday night as the Raiders celebrate Josh Papalii's final home game in the nation's capital.
The inspirational Samoan leader will hang up the boots at the end of this season, marking Friday as a monumental moment for one of the Raiders' premier players.
The Green Machine will be up for the occasion, and the Broncos will have to dig deep to block out the noise and look to return to the winner's circle and avoid edging closer to the wooden spoon.
The clash kicks off at 6 pm at GIO Stadium.
