Brisbane prop Va'a Semu has served his apprenticeship under Payne Haas and now has a chance to prove he can make a valuable contribution when the great man leaves the club.
Semu, 22, has been elevated to starting front-row alongside Haas for the home clash with Newcastle on Saturday night.
While the Broncos will not play finals and cannot defend their title they intend to cause havoc in the last six rounds. It is an opportunity for Semu, who came through the Broncos' academy, to make a statement.
Brisbane sit on 18 points, eight adrift of the top eight and with a -132 points differential.
The aim for the rest of the season is to finish with momentum and lay a foundation for a decent attempt at the 2027 title.
With star prop Haas leaving for South Sydney next year the Broncos must ensure the next generation of middle forwards are ready to take up the challenge ahead.
New Zealand international Xavier Willison has proven himself a leader of the future, winning last year's premiership and then being one of the few Broncos to improve in 2026.
In his eight NRL games, Semu has shown glimpses of what he has to offer. Although his minutes have been limited to an average of 22 it is clear that Semu relishes contact, bends the line and hits hard.
His tackle efficiency of 97 per cent is elite.
A giant 110kg, 194cm prop who has starred for Burleigh Bears when not playing NRL, Semu has been endorsed by lock Pat Carrigan as a player of the future.
"He's a young kid and, as a front-rower, he's serving a pretty good apprenticeship under Payne at the moment. He's only 22 years old and has a lot of growth ahead of him," Carrigan said.
"I'm excited for him. He's worked really hard. He's a good young kid who ticks all the right boxes and doesn't leave any stone unturned.
"He's a big boy and all you need as a young fella is an opportunity, and that's what he's going to get this week."
Semu moves from the bench to start against the Knights due to a syndesmosis injury to prop Preston Riki, who will have surgery in the coming days.
Carrigan said Semu's long-term deal was an opportunity to grow and develop.
"His growth as a front-rower is going to come over the next five or six years, let alone the next 12 months," he said.
"As a player and a person, he's quality in all those areas and everything you want in a professional individual at your club. He deserves this opportunity and I know he'll take it with both hands."
The Broncos are set to be without centre Gehamat Shibasaki (knee) against Newcastle. Deine Mariner moves from wing to centre and Grant Anderson has been recalled on the wing
Billy Walters has been elevated to the No.14 jersey ahead of Ben Hunt and is set to be the first hooker replacement when Cory Paix takes a breather.
