<p>With the 2025 NRL season closer than you think, here at the Huddle we’ve started to cast our eye over each of the 17 teams set to compete for the Provan-Summons trophy this year.</p> <p>First up are the Brisbane Broncos. A disappointing campaign last term saw them part ways with Kevin Walters, merely 12 months after the club legend led them to the Grand Final.</p> <p>Former Rabbitohs Premiership drought-breaker, Michael Maguire, is the new man who has been tasked with quenching the Broncos 19-year thirst for glory.</p> <p>Can Madge get the Broncos back on track and back to where many believe their talented squad belongs?</p> <p>Can he overcome early off-field fiascos and avoid the injury problems that plagued the elder statesmen at Red Hill last season?</p> <p>Let’s find out! Our Brisbane Broncos season preview for the 2025 NRL season is below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Brisbane Broncos New Signings 2025</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em><strong>Ben Hunt (Dragons), Hayze Perham (Bulldogs)</strong></em></p> <p>It’s been rather quiet on the new signings front for the Broncos so far this off season, with one glaring exception.</p> <p>Favourite son Ben Hunt has made a much-publicised return to Red Hill in an effort to help deliver the&nbsp;premiership that quite literally slipped through his fingers a decade ago.</p> <p>The only other new face so far who is set to join him on this mission is utility outside back Hayze Perham who has signed on from Canterbury.</p> <p>On the flip side of the recruitment coin, three players have departed the Broncos ranks.</p> <p>Young gun Tristan Sailor took up a first-team opportunity over in England with St Helens while veteran wingers Corey Oates and Jordan Pereira called time on their careers at the end of last season.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Brisbane Broncos Players to Watch</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Ben Hunt</h3> <p>No surprises here, returning superstar Ben Hunt is the first player to watch on our radar for the Broncos in 2025.</p> <p>A decade on from his Grand Final nightmare, that ultimately sounded the death knell on his first stint at the Broncos, Dozer is back in Brisbane looking to settle the score.</p> <p>Can he turn back the clock, channel the form he regularly shows for the QLD Origin side and help steer this Broncos side back to the promised land?</p> <p>It has fairytale written all over it, but can Hunt help Brisbane&nbsp;win it all on his return? We’re all dying to know how this story ends.</p>

<h3>Kobe Hetherington</h3> <p>Hetherington was on the outer under Walters and was reportedly being shopped around.</p> <p>However, the son of&nbsp;former QLD origin great Jason Hetherington has been named by Madge in multiple press interviews since arriving, as one of the players who has really impressed over the off season.</p> <p>While he is stuck behind Carrigan at starting lock, his role as a middle rotation forward could change games before and after half time.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Blake Mozer</h3> <p>Rookie rake Blake Mozer has long been touted as the next big thing coming through at the Broncos for the last couple of seasons.</p> <p>However, during that time he has been stuck behind Billy Walters, Tyson Smoothy and Cory Paix in the pecking order.</p> <p>That no longer appears to be the case, with early indications from Madge that with Ezra Mam out to start the season and Hunt therefore likely to fill the pivot spot, Mozer will finally get his chance to start in the number 9 jersey in Round 1 and prove if the hype around the 20-year-old is justified.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Brisbane Broncos Draw 2025 Difficulty Rating</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Brisbane Broncos draw for 2025 is far from an easy ride, but it could be a lot worse.</p> <p>Crucially, around the start of the Origin period they have a favourable run and a bye which will come as welcome news to coach Michael Maguire. They also avoid having to play Penrith twice unlike other sides.</p> <p>The bad news for Brisbane in terms of the 2025 draw, is their run home. They have to face reigning Minor Premiers Melbourne twice in the final five weeks of the season, meaning if they want finals footy, they’re going to have to really work for it.</p> <p><strong>Difficulty rating:</strong> Medium.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Brisbane Broncos Season Prediction</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Before a ball has even been kicked, it appears that new coach Michael Maguire will have more than a few headaches to contend with.</p> <p>Star forward Payne Haas is in doubt for their curtain raiser against the Roosters after going under the knife, and then there’s the Ezra Mam incident.</p> <p>After a much publicised off-field discretion, Mam will serve a nine-match suspension to start the season, which&nbsp;a huge blow for the Broncos.</p> <p>Thankfully, for Brisbane, the signing of Hunt will more than remedy this headache and he should seamlessly slot into the halves until Mam is back on deck.</p> <p>In terms of firepower, Brisbane possess one of the best squads in the entire competition. There is little doubt about that and this is reflected in the current Premiership odds, where the Broncos have been installed as third favourites.</p> <p>This lofty billing amongst punters is despite missing out on the finals altogether last year. It’s funny what a new coach, with premiership-winning experience, and a far healthier squad can do in terms of supporter optimism.</p> <p>On paper, the only thing that is really standing between the Broncos and winning the lot, is the Panthers and the strength of Adam Reynolds hamstrings.</p> <p>However, Rugby League is not played on paper, and hope can quickly turn to despair and then to outrage, should results fail to materialise.</p> <p>Anything other than a top four finish will likely be viewed as a failure for Michael Maguire and his men. The pressure is on.</p> <p><strong>Predicted finish: </strong>4th.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Brisbane Broncos Predicted Team for Round 1</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>1. Reece Walsh</p> <p>2. Jesse Arthars</p> <p>3. Kotoni Staggs</p> <p>4. Deine Mariner</p> <p>5. Selwyn Cobbo</p> <p>6. Ben Hunt</p> <p>7. Adam Reynolds</p> <p>8. Payne Haas</p> <p>9. Blake Mozer</p> <p>10. Corey Jensen</p> <p>11. Brendan Piakura</p> <p>12. Jordan Riki</p> <p>13. Patrick Carrigan</p> <p>14. Billy Walters</p> <p>15. Kobe Hetherington</p> <p>16. Fletcher Baker</p> <p>17. Xavier Willison</p>