The rugby league world gathers in Brisbane this weekend for the festival of footy - NRL’s Magic Round.
It’s the biggest weekend in the NRL calendar, with fans from 16 teams coming from all corners of Australia to enjoy an entire round of footy.
For some players, the stakes are even higher, with some returning to their old stomping ground after branching out to other teams later in their careers.
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So we’ve gone ahead and listed some Brisbane Broncos homegrown players to look out for who will be returning to Suncorp Stadium.
Expect quite the performance out of these lads.
David Fifita
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The young second-rower has pushed for a re-selection into the Maroons side over the past year with dominating and consistent performance.
But the 23-year-old got his NRL start playing for the Brisbane Broncos, in fact, he competed for the Queensland Schoolboys at youth level.
He was picked up by the Broncos in 2018 where he started the year by playing in the Queensland Cup before making his debut against the Raiders, becoming the first player born in the 2000s to play NRL footy in the process.
He signed for the Gold Coast Titans for a record three-year deal worth over $3 million back in 2020 and has been a highlight for the team ever since.
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Rumours persisted earlier this month that the Broncos were looking to make an offer to the star to return to Suncorp, however, he extended his deal with the Titans until 2026, as reported by Fox Sports.
He’ll be wanting to put in yet another stellar performance against the Eels to further reinforce why he’s a hot commodity in Queensland.
Jai Arrow
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A key enforcer in the Rabbitohs pack, Jai Arrow really shone through when he moved to the Gold Coast Titans.
But he made his NRL start at the Brisbane Broncos, playing for their National Youth Competition team from 2012, and even captaining the side in 2015.
He made his debut for the Broncos in Round 10 of the 2016 NRL season after graduating from Brisbane’s side Queensland Cup team, North Devils.
He made 24 appearances for the team from Suncorp and has gone on to become a key player at his future teams in the Titans and South Sydney.
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Going up against Melbourne Storm in arguably the game of the round, Arrow will be hoping to grab the two points in front of friends and family.
Xavier Coates
Speaking of Storm…
The electric winger has turned himself into one of the most important players for the Melbourne side since moving to the side in 2022.
He’s scored 20 tries in 24 appearances, a ridiculous record, and to be fair, his tryscoring record at the Brisbane Broncos wasn’t too shabby either.
He scored a try on his NRL debut against the Sharks back in 2019 and soon established himself as one of the game’s best wingers.
Coates scored 17 tries in 32 appearances at the Broncos and earned his place in the Maroon’s State of Origin series.
He broke Brisbane fans’ hearts when it was announced he was joining the Storm - it will be interesting to see the reaction the young player gets when he returns to Suncorp.
Ben Hunt
Ben Hunt has become synonymous with the Dragons over the past five years, a shining light in what has otherwise been a dark period.
He brings the St George side together, and can easily be considered one of the best halfbacks in the game.
But let’s not forget he spent almost a decade at the Broncos, playing in the Toyota Cup for their Under 20s side before making his debut in 2009.
After the retirement of Darren Lockyer, Hunt was in and around the five-eight position for much of his tenure, before eventually making the halfback position his own.
However, he’ll perhaps be remembered for the wrong reason when it comes to the 2015 Grand Final against North Queensland.
His horror three minutes which saw a loose carry and strip converted into a Kyle Feldt try to even the scores 16-all before he then knocked the ball on following a kick which gave Jonathon Thurston the opportunity to win the game with a field goal.
His final season at Brisbane was tumultuous after it had been announced he would be moving to the Dragons, suffering an injury before being dropped by Wayne Bennett in preference for Kodi Nikorima.
He’ll have a point to prove against the Tigers when he returns to Brisbane.
Tom Dearden
The five-eighth played alongside the likes of Xavier Coates for the Queensland Under-16s side, before also making his debut for the Broncos in 2019.
He made sporadic appearances for the Brisbane side between 2019 and 2021, making 12 appearances during their 2020 Wooden Spoon season.
However, upon moving to the Cowboys he has etched out his place as a potential Maroons contender following a run of good form in 2022.
He faces a tough test against the Roosters when he returns to Suncorp Stadium.
Featured Image Credit: NRL/Supplied.Topics: NRL, Rugby League, Australia, Brisbane Broncos