Tom Duffy will wear the No. 6 jersey and partner Adam Reynolds in the halves when Brisbane meets the Gold Coast Titans on Saturday, after coach Michael Maguire benched Ezra Mam for the Queensland derby.
The switch gives Duffy, 22, his latest chance to stake a claim in a side under pressure to stop the slide. Brisbane have lost four straight and sit 11th on the NRL standings, which makes every selection feel heavier than it might have a month ago.
Duffy has played only three games for the Broncos this season, but his rise has been fast enough that the club is now moving to lock him in. He is reportedly on the verge of a two-year extension that would keep him at Red Hill until the end of 2028, although he has not formally signed the new deal and talks with his management are still in the advanced stages.
Maguire said he had a high opinion of Duffy and wanted to keep him at the club, adding that a competitive squad was exactly what he wanted as a coach because it gave players a chance to earn their place. He said he had been impressed with what Duffy had done since joining Brisbane, describing his attitude as strong and his willingness to learn as a good sign before handing him his opportunity this week.
The call also sharpens the competition around Brisbane’s halves beyond this weekend. With Adam Reynolds nearing retirement, Duffy could be in the mix next season for the halfback role alongside Ben Hunt and Jonah Pezet, who has already signed a three-year deal with the Broncos from 2027 while currently playing for the Eels after his one-season move from Melbourne Storm.
That makes Saturday’s derby at Suncorp Stadium more than a simple local rivalry. Brisbane need a response, Duffy needs a clean showing in the No. 6 jersey, and Mam has been left to wait after being benched in a selection call that underlines how little room remains for passengers in a season that is slipping away.
The Broncos face the Titans in the Queensland capital at 7.35pm AEST, and the performance of their new halves pairing will say plenty about how Maguire sees the side’s short-term fix and longer-term future.
