Embattled Brisbane are under siege with boom forward Brendan Piakura the latest young gun considering quitting the Broncos and following whizkid Reece Walsh out of Red Hill.
News Corp can reveal the Bulldogs have upped the ante in the tug-of-war for Piakura, tabling a deal that threatens to blow Brisbane out of the water — just as the Warriors did with their successful $1 million raid on Walsh.
The off-contract Australian Schoolboys star is on the verge of finalising his future and if the decisive factor is about money, Piakura will join the Bulldogs next season.
The Broncos are desperate to retain the damaging back-rower but simply cannot compete in a bidding war with the Bulldogs, who believe they are front-runners to steal Piakura amid interest from the Titans.
The Titans have also tabled an offer for the Gold Coast product but Canterbury’s deal is the most attractive.
Brendan Piakura is the latest young gun considering quitting the Broncos. Picture: Robb Cox/NRL Photos
The Broncos are reeling from the Warriors’ ambush on Walsh and they can ill-afford to lose another budding NRL star from their Elite Player Development program.
Within hours of the Warriors trumpeting the signing of fullback sensation Walsh on a three-year deal worth as much as $450,000 a season, the Broncos held urgent talks with Piakura’s management to thrash out an extension.
The rangy Piakura has represented the Queensland under-18s and former Brisbane skipper Corey Parker says it would be a crippling blow if the explosive back-rower defected to Belmore.
“I’ve watched Brendan for some time and he is outstanding,” said 347-game Broncos legend Parker.
Palm Beach Currumbin rugby league player Brendan Piakura. Picture: Jerad Williams
Piakura wears head-gear and is a devastating back-row package on the left edge.
The hulking Brisbane rookie is not only mobile for a 100kg-plus forward but runs superb lines and has the same defensive aggression that propelled former Bronco Jaydn Su’A into the Queensland Origin team last season.
Parker said Piakura had the talent and desire to graduate from Queensland’s junior representative teams to the senior Maroons in the Origin arena.
“Brendan has all the skills,” he said.
“Piakura is a different style of back-rower to David Fifita (ex-Bronco who defected to the Titans this season) ... he is a damaging ball-runner but I also like the fact he has mongrel in defence.
“He is a quietly-spoken sort of kid but he has a great attitude, I’m not surprised clubs are lining up to sign him.”
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