<p>The <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/round-1">2026 NRL Season</a> is less than a month away, with Round 1 officially beginning on Saturday, February 28 in Las Vegas.</p> <p>As we prepare for another season of the greatest game of all, we’re running an eye over all 17 teams, to separate the contenders from the pretenders. We’ll analyse squad depth, each team’s draw, <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/round-1">premiership odds</a> and more.</p> <p>Love them or hate them, it’s hard not to admit that the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl-season-wins/brisbane-broncos-regular-season-wins-2026-10112791">Brisbane Broncos</a> are great to watch. Big personalities, long-range tries and last-minute thrillers, the Broncos are a weekly dose of pure, unscripted drama.</p> <p>In years gone by, too often their swagger descended into arrogance and punters would rush to prune the tallest poppies in the Sunshine State.</p> <p>Whether wilting under pressure, or downright dreadful footy, the bumbling Brisbane Broncos had lost their lustre since Lockyer’s last game in 2011. For 19 years they sat in premiership purgatory, even the most loyal QLDers questioned the club’s capacity to compete.</p> <p>Disaster doesn’t quite do justice to the Broncos wooden spoon in 2020, coach Seibold fled the scene, Wayne chuckled behind pursed lips and rookie front rowers Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan made a pact.</p> <p>Kevvie Walters came within a whisker of ending the ‘Chin Dynasty’ and toppling the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/nrl/predictions/penrith-panthers-season-preview-2026">Penrith Panthers</a> in 23’, but it wasn’t to be. The 23’ Broncs had talent in spades and would regularly run rings around teams through individual brilliance. But there were days when the young team just didn’t show up.</p> <p>They needed a hard edge, an underbelly of steel, the tangible Queensland spirit that we’ve come to expect from a maroon jersey. And it came from the most unlikely source imaginable. Enter Madge Mcguire.</p> <p>The Broncos finals run in 25’ is etched in the memories of all who witnessed, giving a certain redundancy to the memorabilia and history books.</p> <p>What will come next in the ballad of rugby league's rockstars, the reigning premiers, the famous Brisbane Broncos?</p> <p>Find about below, as we preview the Brisbane Broncos 2026 season.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Brisbane Broncos Players 2026</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>There has been minimal turnover at Red Hill following a triumphant 2025, the Broncos head into their new campaign with stability across all key positions.</p> <p>Of the club’s losses are out of favour fan favourite Selwyn Cobbo <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl-season-wins/dolphins-regular-season-wins-2026-10112943">(Dolphins)</a> nut trucker of note Kobe Hetherington <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl-season-wins/manly-sea-eagles-regular-season-wins-2026-10112919">(Sea Eagles)</a> and the always handy Tyson Smoothy <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/super-league">(Super League)</a>.</p> <p>New faces come in the form of reliable outside back Grant Anderson from Melbourne, emerging half Tom Duffy moves South from the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl-season-wins/north-queensland-cowboys-regular-season-wins-2026-10112808">Cowboys</a> and imposing Kiwi Aublix Tawha joins after a breakout year for the Dolphins.</p> <p>With captain Adam Reynolds and the best front rower in the game Payne Haas both moving on in 2027, this year is the last ride for this Broncos group.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Brisbane Broncos Main Man</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Reece Walsh</h3> <p>For the Broncos in 2026, an in form and consistent Reece Walsh is the ticket back to the big dance. Coming off an unbelievable run of form that culminated in a Clive Churchill winning Grand Final performance, Reece Walsh has still not lost a game since the toilet water incident.</p> <p>In 2025, Reece Lightning led the league in try assists, line break assists and 40/20s and still crossed for 14 of his own tries. Whether you’re a fan or not, Reece’s impact on the Bronco’s scoreboard success is irrefutable.</p> <p>With strike across the park, from Deine Mariner to Xavier Willison, and old heads like Adam Reynolds and Ben Hunt steering the ship, having Walsh at the back to cap it all off is a luxury.</p> <p>If the forward pack decides who wins the match, Reece Walsh decides by how much. He’s a spark in attack, the tip of the spear, an out and out entertainer.</p> <p>Nothing is certain in rugby league, but if Walsh can stay fit this season, the Broncos are all but destined to make a second grand final in as many years.&nbsp; Reece Walsh is the Broncos main man in 2026, and all eyes will be on him come round one.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Brisbane Broncos Draw Difficulty Rating</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Year in, and year out, the Broncos draw is a triggering topic for fans across the league. Once again, they’ve been handed a draw that offers a prime opportunity to bank points early in the season.</p> <p>The Broncos leave South-East Queensland once in the first five rounds and they’re blessed with long turnarounds, having more Friday night games than any other club.</p> <p>Some well placed byes during the Origin period further strengthen their position for another deep finals run.</p> <p><strong>Difficulty Rating: </strong>Easy.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Brisbane Broncos Season Prediction 2026</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>On paper, the Broncos possess the most complete roster in the competition, featuring superstars across the park and workers like Ben Talty, Cory Paix and Corey Jensen to complement them.</p> <p>They have squad depth too, with a wealth of quality set to miss the matchday 19. With Ezra Mam, Ben Hunt and Adam Reynolds rotating between the halves, injury is unlikely to derail their season.</p> <p>Combine that with Madge McGuire's infamous standards and the fact that no other contenders have emerged in 2026 and you have a golden opportunity for the Broncos to go back-to-back.</p> <p>Anything less than a top four finish would be a disaster for this squad. With Reynolds, Haas and likely Ben Hunt locked in for their final years at the club, motivation won’t be an issue.</p> <p>We expect the Broncos to be the team to beat once again in 2026, now is the time to shave your Shibasaki goatee.</p> <p><strong>&nbsp;Predicted Finish: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl-futures-multi-hub/nrl-grand-final-winner-2026-9699133">Back-to-back premiers.&nbsp;</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Brisbane Broncos Predicted Round 1 Team</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>1.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Reece Walsh</p> <p>2.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Deine Mariner</p> <p>3.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Kotoni Staggs</p> <p>4.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Gehamat Shibasaki</p> <p>5.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Grant Anderson</p> <p>6.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Ezra Mam</p> <p>7.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Adam Reynolds</p> <p>8.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Corey Jensen</p> <p>9.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Ben Hunt</p> <p>10. Payne Haas</p> <p>11. Brendan Piakura</p> <p>12. Aublix Tawha</p> <p>13. Patrick Carrigan</p> <p>14. Cory Paix</p> <p>15. Jordan Riki</p> <p>16. Ben Talty</p> <p>17. Xavier Willison</p> <p>18. Benjamin Te Kura</p> <p>19. Josiah Karapani</p>