Baby Broncos unleashed: Silver lining in scramble to cover $5m talent void

“You’ve only got to look at the top teams when they’re performing well, the players underneath are preparing to the best of their ability.

“It’s a great opportunity for us as a squad to showcase some of these players who may not get that regular first-grade time.”

News that Jensen had suffered a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs) sent shockwaves through the group, with Broncos forward Jordan Riki revealing the prop had expressed some symptoms before the Tigers encounter.

“I actually had no idea. I heard him coughing a little bit in the warm-up, and stuff like that, prior to the game, and obviously, you don’t think it’s too bad. But hearing the news after, and he was telling some of the boys after the game he wasn’t feeling that great … it’s pretty shocking,” Riki said.

Reece Walsh (cheekbone), Ben Hunt, Billy Walters, Grant Anderson (all knees), Aublix Tawha (eye socket), Blake Mozer (jaw) and Delouise Hoeter (leg) have already been recovering from setbacks.

Pat Carrigan is serving a two-game suspension, and Ben Te Kura has taken leave for six weeks to pursue an NFL opportunity. Jesse Arthars has been named despite suffering a leg issue, as has centre Kotoni Staggs, who played through a plantar fascia strain against the Tigers.

“The way to describe it is like you’re standing on a nail. It’s really sore, I don’t think a lot of people can understand,” said Riki, who is playing through his own foot issue and suffered the same setback two years ago.

“I think it [Staggs’ injury] is pretty similar [to mine]. I was giving him a bit of stick before, and [I’m] a bit jealous he snapped his before mine because then the pain pretty much goes.”

Brisbane will need their remaining forward pack to embody Xavier Willison’s performance against the Tigers, with the Kiwi enforcer shifting to lock and producing one of the finest games of his career, with 172 running metres and 54 tackles.

Interchange forward Ben Talty joined him, but with the Broncos’ entire starting middle-three sidelined for Friday’s clash with the Bulldogs, they will need reinforcements to stand tall.

Riki believes the 21-year-old Semu, who has averaged 119 running metres a game and missed just two tackles in five appearances through the Queensland Cup this year, has the tools to do just that.

“He’s exciting, he’s a big boy – I’ve definitely felt that at training in some of the wrestle groups – and the thing I love about him is he’s willing to learn, and [he’s] always asking questions,” he said.

“I was here when he first came into the club, he didn’t really say much and was a bit of a shy boy, but he’s a bit boisterous too. I definitely know that once he’s in there, he’s got a long career and, hopefully, here at the Broncos.”

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.