Brendan Piakura
Piakura was born in Newcastle, New South Wales and raised on the Gold Coast, Queensland. He is of Cook Islands descent. He played his junior rugby league for the Helensvale Hornets and attended Coombabah State High School and Palm Beach Currumbin State High School before being signed by the Brisbane Broncos. In 2018, Piakura represented the Queensland under-16 team. In 2019, he played for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the Mal Meninga Cup, starting at second row in their state and national finals wins. In June 2019, he represented the Queensland under-18 team. In September 2019, he represented the Australian Schoolboys in their 36–20 win over the Junior Kiwis. Piakura began the season playing for the Norths Devils in the Queensland Cup. On 15 April, he re-signed with the Brisbane club until the end of the 2024 season. In Round 24 of the 2021 NRL season, Piakura made his NRL debut for Brisbane in a loss to the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. He was sin-binned six minutes into his debut for a late tackle on Cronulla halfback Braydon Trindall, and was later suspended for two games. Piakura once completing his two match suspension played for Norths Devils in the Queensland cup finals, playing in wins over Tweed Heads Seagulls and Burleigh Bears. Piakura failed a HIA against Burleigh Bears in the preliminary final five minutes into the game and missed the Grand Final win over Wynnum Manly Seagulls the following week as a result of failing the HIA.
Background
Brendan Piakura (born 16 May 2002) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a for the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL.