Hayze Perham has vowed to repay the faith shown to him by the Brisbane Broncos after they re-signed him during the lowest point of his career.
After a 957 day wait to return to the NRL, Perham was unexpectedly thrust into the attack against Wests Tigers in Round 7, when injury ruled out makeshift Broncos fullback Jesse Arthars.
Last Friday, he made his first starting appearance since Round 27, 2023 - ironically against his former club the Bulldogs - and played a key role in Brisbane’s 32-12 win with 115 run metres and a try assist.
“Obviously, very grateful to be back on the big stage, especially an occasion like this, playing Anzac weekend at Suncorp, probably the best stadium in the NRL to play and for such a special occasion,” Perham said.
“I think it's been my first start since ‘23 last round, so very special for me.
“I've got a lot of my family here to watch, so it's a huge occasion.”
The former Māori All Stars representative was signed to a train-and-trial deal with the Broncos in early 2025, but ruptured his ACL in Brisbane’s Pre-Season Challenge game with the Titans and missed the entire season.
Starting 2026 with Brisbane affiliate club Souths Logan Magpies, Perham’s opportunity to return to the NRL has come as the club battle a growing injury toll, which is somewhat ironic given his own injury battles.
“I think hard's an understatement,” Perham said of his knee reconstruction.
“There was definitely a time midway last year when I thought I wasn't going to get through it, and it might have been the end of the road for me, but the Broncos, they really supported me.
“I came over on a one-year development deal and they signed me pretty much halfway through my rehab program.
“The faith that they showed me to get to this point now, it's obviously a huge occasion.
“I'm glad I got to repay them in some way to play (today) and then get the win for them.
“A knee reco’s not an easy thing to go through in any circumstance, (so) when they came forward to my manager and said that they wanted to keep me on for another year, when I haven't even touched the field yet, it was a huge uplifting moment for me.
“Showed that they noticed what I did in pre-season and they appreciated it.
“Just truly grateful for that.”
While Perham knows his time starting in the team will be limited depending on the injury return of Reece Walsh, he was still keen to extend his time and had been enjoying the opportunity to learn from Kangaroos representative.
“I'd love to stay here … I love all the boys and especially the faith that they showed me …
“I'm happy to do my job for the team, wherever it may be, but I'd love to be here.
“(Walsh) probably finished the year in the best form that anyone's ever been in, so to be around a player like that, even though he's a bit younger, he's a bit cheekier, but to learn off him, it's amazing.
“Obviously, he's had a bit hard start to the year with his injuries, but he's still around all of us, helping us through video, still out on the field; rolling around on his little tricycles, so he's still a huge help to all of us.”
This week, the Broncos travel to Allianz Stadium to take on in-form fullback James Tedesco and his Roosters team looking to claim their fifth win in a row.
Match: Roosters v Broncos
Round 9 -
home Team
Roosters
5th Position
away Team
Broncos
7th Position
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
