Boom Brisbane Broncos back-rower and NSW Blues hopeful Tevita Pangai Junior is in doubt for Round 1 of the NRL season after suffering a hamstring injury on Saturday night.
The 23-year-old, who has a history of hamstring issues, left the field late in the first quarter of the Broncos’ 26-12 trial victory over Wynnum-Manly.
“I felt it pop,” Pangai Junior said.
“I’m pretty disappointed. I worked hard on my hammies all pre-season.”
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“I don’t know what to say … hopefully I’m good for Round 1.”
Fortunately for the Broncos, scans on Sunday brought good news, with the club's head of performance Paul Devlin saying they expect him to be back in training soon.
“Tevita had a bit of a scare in the game but at present it looks like it is something only mild in nature,” Devlin said.
“We expect him to be back running as early as tomorrow and we will assess it from there.”
The Broncos will open the 2019 NRL season in a blockbuster clash against the Melbourne Storm on Thursday, March 14.
Prop Payne Haas was this week suspended for the first four games of the upcoming season for failing to co-operate with an NRL Integrity Unit investigation.
It wasn’t all bad news for Seibold, who will take over the reins from Wayne Bennett at Red Hill this season.
Prop Thomas Flegler, who is yet to make his NRL debut, was a standout for the Broncos on Saturday night to emerge as a genuine contender for Round 1.
Meanwhile, last season’s prize recruit Jack Bird made it through his first competitive minutes in 287 days unscathed.
The former Cronulla Sharks and NSW Blues star had some handy touches at centre in his 30-minute stint in the Broncos’ win.
