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How to tune into Sport NationMake-or-break Broncos 'madman' heading right for Hughes
Joel Gould, AAP • October 3rd, 2025 8:27 am
Brisbane hitman Brendan Piakura is easygoing with fans but a nightmare for opponents | Photo: AAP
Peter Ryan, the wild and woolly hero of the 1997 NRL grand final for Brisbane, insists kindred-spirit forward Brendan Piakura will be a fear factor for Melbourne half Jahrome Hughes in the grand final.
Two-time title winner Ryan, one of the game's greatest defenders, cut Cronulla fullback David Peachey in half in the second period of the 26-8 win over the Sharks in the 1997 decider when the game was on the line.
The ball was dislodged and centre Steve Renouf scored one of his three tries to put the Broncos on track for victory.
Second-rower Piakura, who has missed multiple matches this year with concussion, raced out of the line on multiple occasions to smash Penrith maestro Nathan Cleary in the Broncos' 16-14 preliminary final win last Sunday.
His head collected Cleary in the chest and ribs. Cleary bounced straight back up, but Ryan told AAP that Piakura's tactics were spot-on and worked a treat. He said Piakura was a weapon who would have Hughes looking for him in Sunday's decider.
Melbourne's Jahrome Hughes played with a guard on his broken left arm in the prelim final | Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP
Hughes wore a protective guard when he made a brilliant early return from a broken left arm in the Storm's preliminary final win over the Sharks.
In a twist, it was Piakura who ran the ball at Hughes when the Storm star suffered the break in the round-27 loss to the Broncos after returning from a dislocated shoulder.
Ryan said the Broncos would ensure Piakura targeted Hughes.
"You'd like to think that is the case. As a coach, you know Piakura is going to die trying," Ryan told AAP.
"If Hughes gets hit, as Piakura can hit, he might break his other arm.
"If Piakura is on the ball, he's the one leading the line forward. It's dominant. I'm sure his thought process is, 'I am going to put a good shot on here'.
"If Piakura is on the ball, he's the one leading the line forward. It's dominant. I'm sure his thought process is, 'I am going to put a good shot on here'.
"Sometimes they don't come off because you put yourself in harm's way. That is obviously what has taken place with Piakura's few head knocks.
"But guess what? Cleary was shifting the ball earlier on Sunday after he got hit because he knew Piakura was coming at his inside shoulder. That's what happens when you get hit under the ribs a few times from the same bloke."
Herbie Farnworth of the Dolphins and the Cowboys' Tom Dearden offer their grand final predictions | Video: AAP
Ryan, who was Brisbane's defensive coach when they last won a title in 2006, was described by the great Peter Sterling in Channel Nine commentary in 1997 as "a missile" when he walloped Peachey.
Broncos teammates of 23-year-old Piakura are just happy to have the modern-day "missile" in their side.
"He's got no respect for his body that fella. He would put his head where I wouldn't put my feet," Broncos forward Kobe Hetherington said of Piakura.
"He flies into them. He is a tough bugger and good to have on your team. You wouldn't be running into him, that's for sure."
Brendan Piakura loves belting and being belted in tackle drills | Photo: Darren England/AAP
Hooker Cory Paix agreed, when asked about Piakura's tendency to race in head-first.
"He's a madman. You can't run without a head," Paix chuckled.
"He is massive for this team and I love his aggression. The team loves his aggression. As long as it is controlled I don't see anything wrong with it."
Ryan said Piakura had won over his teammates.
"Every player on that Broncos team wants to play with a player like Piakura because of what he does," Ryan said.
"That component of his mindset is, 'I don't care about me, I care about the team'. That's why he gets picked every week, because his coach and teammates want him in the team."
Tune into Sport Nation for live commentary of the NRL Grand Final, thanks to SEN, from 8pm Sunday.
