Four years of anticipation for what rugby league’s biggest man can bring is finally coming true as Broncos rookie Ben Te Kura makes his case for an NRL breakthrough.
The tallest man in the competition’s history was in danger of becoming Brisbane’s latest wrecking ball, only for injuries to curtail his output.
While still only 22 at 205cm, Te Kura has made just five first-class appearances since making his debut in 2024 and featured just twice in the club’s run to a premiership drought last year after suffering a syndesmosis injury midway through the year.
Ben Te Kura scores for the Broncos.Credit: Photos by Gregg Porteous/NRL
The setback followed Lisfranc surgery a year earlier, after Te Kura made his mark in the Queensland Cup in which he scored 15 tries in 41 games for Souths Logan Magpies, averaging 104 running meters and nearly 15 tackles per outing.
It was always going to take a man of Te Kura’s stature to get comfortable with his massive frame, but the sight of him looking slimmer and leaner at Red Hill suggested a breakthrough campaign.
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And with two bench spots available since the Broncos’ triumphant grand final following the departures of Kobe Hetherington (Manly) and Tyson Smoothy (England’s Wakefield Trinity), Te Kura’s Brisbane team-mate Corey Jensen believes 2026 will see the rise of the 122kg wrecking balls.
“There’s no reason not to. Madge.” [coach Michael Maguire] was always big on [saying] will not vote for anyone; it’s all about who works the hardest out there,” said Jensen, who will battle to hold off Xavier Willison to start alongside Payne Haas at prop.
“He’s working his way back. He had a bit of a leg injury so he’s been running with his rehab.” [group]and I think he’s actually going to move up to skills, he said, next week. We all know how damaging he can be so it will be really good for him to be able to find some consistency and he will do well for the club.
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