Canterbury prepare red-carpet treatment in bid to woo Brendan Piakura
The Roosters, Eels, Storm, Titans, Raiders, Knights, Bulldogs and Broncos all chased this teen, but one by one the dominoes have fallen.
David Riccio
David Riccio
@DaveRic1
2 min read
February 20, 2021 - 5:00PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
A teenager widely regarded as one of the most-prized signatures in the NRL will fly into Sydney this week, with the Bulldogs poised to roll out the red carpet.
Mass-interest from eight clubs — half of the NRL competition — were originally vying to sign Brisbane Broncos 18-year-old Brendan Piakura.
Big, raw and a left-edge backrower, Piakura is on-contract at the Broncos until the end of 2021, but under NRL rules, he is free to plan for his future with a rival club.
The interest in the Australian Schoolboys talent has been extraordinary.
The Roosters, Eels, Storm, Titans, Raiders, Knights, Bulldogs and Broncos all forwarded their interest in the teen, but one by one the dominoes have fallen.
Canterbury have their nose in front of Piakura‘s current club, the Broncos.
The Gold Coast Titans are a distant third option.
The Bulldogs are planning to provide Piakura with a tour of the Belmore facilities and a face-to-face meeting with coach Trent Barrett and his coaching staff on Wednesday.
Only last year, Barrett took time out from his family holiday on the NSW north coast to meet the teenager in person.
Zoom calls with Roosters coach Trent Robinson and a meeting with Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy followed - but it‘s the Dogs that are offering the huge talent a direct path to the NRL.
The Dogs are expected to table a two-year deal for the 18-year-old worth close to $600,000.
A Tweed Heads local junior, Piakura spent 2020 training inside the Broncos’ first-grade bubble after representing at Australian Schoolboys level.
He was also chosen in the 2019 Queensland under-18’s side alongside current NRL players Tesi Niu, Xavier Coates and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
Against the NSW under-18’s, Piakura ran for almost 100m in the back row and made 25 tackles in the 34-12 win.
Piakura is also close friends with Bulldogs 2020 clubman of the year and Australian Schoolboys teammate, Jackson Topine
Piakura was believed to be impressed with Barrett‘s clear intent to build a young and talented side for future success.
The Broncos also see Piakura as their future.
However, working against Brisbane is the long-list of quality backrowers and lock-forwards in front of Piakura, including Tevita Pangai, Jordan Riki, Patrick Carrigan, Alex Glenn, Ben Te’o, Corey Oates and Keenan Palasia.
In a Sunday Telegraph interview about Piakura last July, respected player agent Allan Gainey said Piakura’s future will be determined largely by where he will receive the greatest level of tutelage.
“There’s no denying Brendan could have a very successful career in front of him,’’ Gainey said.
“But what’s important is what he does with that talent and how we can help him receive the best opportunity to enhance his development under the right coaching.’’