NRLW squad watch: New-look Broncos set for fresh start

The Broncos enter the 2023 season with a host of new recruits, a new coach and plenty of familiar faces as they look to make amends after missing the finals last year.

A fresh start seems appropriate for the Broncos, who won only one of five games during the 2022 season in Kelvin Wright's final campaign in charge of the club.

The three-time champions have all the pedigree to get back on top in the NRLW with new coach Scott Prince already impressing in recruitment to lure several familiar representative stars. 

Led by Maroons and Jillaroos captain Ali Brigginshaw for a sixth consecutive season, the Broncos veteran will be burning the most after last year's finish and is expected to lead from the front. 

Predicted Round 1 Team

1. Hayley Maddick 2. Ash Werner 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Shenae Ciesiolka 5. Julia Robinson 6. Gayle Broughton 7. Ali Brigginshaw 8. Chelsea Lenarduzzi 9. Destiny Brill 10. Annetta Nu'uausala 11. Romy Teitzel 12. Tazmin Gray 13. Mariah Denman 14. Jada Ferguson 15. Jasmine Fogavini 16. Hannah Larsson 17. Filomina Hanisi.

Other: Brianna Clark*, Tafito Lafaele, Lavinia Gould, Lauren Dam, Grace Griffin, Toni Hunt, Narikah Orchard.

*Not expected to be available for Round 1 due to injury

Biggest strength

Brisbane's core group of players have been a mainstay at the club since their NRLW inception in 2018 and after an unsuccessful campaign in 2022 this is an area they can really use to their advantage while the competition expands. 

Add in the returns of Romy Teitzel, Tazmin Gray and Mariah Denman, who have all played with the Broncos previously, plus the new recruits Prince has picked up, and Brisbane's strength on paper is there for all to see. 

Prince has bought players with some mongrel and aggression while Gayle Broughton brings some class and unstructured attack that should really unsettle the opposition. 

The Broncos might've fallen into the trap of being too structured last year but with the likes of Broughton, Mele Hufanga and Tazmin Gray it should provide a big point of difference.

Biggest question mark

The Broncos struggled without Tamika Upton at fullback last season and while Hayley Maddick tried her best at the back it's hard to replace one of the best players in the competition in such quick fashion and expect immediate impact.

Maddick will enter her second full season in the No.1 jersey this year and should be better for the experience. Brisbane will have the muscle up front so getting their outside backs like Maddick around the ball will be key. 

The same will apply after the departures of two of their biggest strike weapons in Tarryn Aiken and Amber Hall, who both join the Roosters in 2023. 

The squad boasts plenty of size in 2023 which immediately signals a power game, so in return they'll have to be smart with that and utilise their back five as much as possible.

Rookie to watch

Can we actually call Mele Hufanga a rookie given she's represented New Zealand at the World Cup last year but is yet to make her NRLW debut?

Hufanga took the international tournament by storm in November last year when she amassed four tries in five games including a total of 32 tackle busts, five linebreaks and an average of 146 running metres per outing. 

After making the call to commit to rugby league on a more permanant basis after previously playing rugby union, Hufanga is set to provide the Broncos with the size out wide they need with early ball a must for the Kiwi Ferns powerhouse.

Best recruit

Gayle Broughton's arrival from Parramatta will give the Broncos some immediate X-factor in 2023 with the former rugby sevens star set for a switch into the halves this season. 

Broughton showed plenty of great signs in her first rugby league stint last year as a fullback but has made her intentions clear she's eager to test herself in the front line and be a ball-playing half in the NRLW. 

After the exit of Aiken, it will be up to Broughton to bring a similiar style of play in a challenge in itself for the new recruit after only ever wearing the No.1 jersey in league.