Rugby league legend Andrew Johns has raised serious concerns about the Brisbane Broncos‘ long-term planning, questioning the club’s ability to develop young playmakers as it leans on ageing veterans Adam Reynolds and Ben Hunt.
In a candid segment on Nine’s Freddy and the Eighth, Johns expressed alarm at Brisbane’s dearth of rising halves, stating bluntly, “There isn’t any.”
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The comments come amid speculation that 35-year-old Reynolds, the Broncos’ current halfback, is poised to extend his career into 2026, joining Hunt—also 35—as part of the NRL’s oldest halves combination.
“The worrying thing for me is they are the biggest club in the NRL, and they haven’t got any halves coming through,” Johns said. “Where is the next halves pushing through?”
The Broncos’ mid-season slump, including a recent 34-6 loss to Manly, has intensified scrutiny on their succession plans. While Reynolds and Hunt continue to provide leadership, fans and experts alike are beginning to wonder who will carry the mantle when the duo eventually retire.
Johns contrasted Brisbane’s outlook with that of the Canberra Raiders, who have ushered in a new wave of playmakers such as Kaeo Weekes, Chevy Stewart, Ethan Sanders, and Ethan Strange—all in their teens or early 20s.
Brisbane great Darren Lockyer has previously pointed to Coby Black as a potential successor, but the youngster is yet to debut in first grade. Compounding the concern is the looming departure of other senior Broncos including Billy Walters, Corey Jensen, and Jack Gosiewski—all over 30.
Despite the criticisms, former NSW coach Brad Fittler defended Brisbane’s development system.
“They’ve got the talent… all the kids in Queensland want to play for the Broncos,” Fittler said. “They don’t need different players, they just have to find a way to fix things.”
Currently sitting 11th on the NRL ladder, the Broncos face a critical clash against the Gold Coast Titans this Saturday as pressure mounts on their current roster and long-term vision.
With the NRL’s younger sides reaping the rewards of bold investment in youth, Brisbane’s once-vaunted production line now faces a reckoning. Whether the club can rediscover its development magic—or remains stuck in the past—may define its competitive future.
